CORRESPONDENCE OF 
THOMAS BARCLAY 



SELECTIONS FROM 

THE 

CORRESPONDENCE 

OF s- 

THOMAS BAR CLAY 

FORMERLY BRITISH CONSUL-GENERAL AT NEW YORK 



EDITED BY 

GEORGE LOCKHART RIVES, M.A. 

LATE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE 
OF THE UNITED STATES 







' 



»M'A 



NEW YORK 

HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS 

1894 



fifif 



Copyright, 1894, by Georoe Lockhart Riy Es . 
All rights reserved. 

-1 






PREFATORY NOTE 

Of the voluminous correspondence of Thomas Barclay 
only fragments now exist. He kept few of the letters ad- 
dressed to him, and none of a purely familiar or domestic 
kind. Copies, or sometimes rough drafts, of the letters he 
wrote were entered in letter-books, but none of his papers 
exist of a date earlier than 1790, and there are no letter- 
books later than 1818. Nevertheless, fragmentary as the 
collection generally is, the records of many of his public 
services are tolerably complete ; and it has seemed to one 
of his descendants that the printing of portions of his 
correspondence tvould not only afford some memorial of a 
long and honorable career, but might also throw new light 
upon certain historical events. 

Few-York, Oct 15, 1894. 






TABLE OF CONTENTS 



PAGE 

CHAPTER I 
Earlier Years 1 



CHAPTER II 
The True River St. Crolx 43 

CHAPTER III 
Consul-General, 1799-1802 95 

CHAPTER IV 
Consul-General, 1803-1804 145 

CHAPTER V 
Consul-General, 1804-1806 203 

CHAPTER VI 
Consul-General, 1807-1812 252 

CHAPTER VII 
Agent for British Prisoners 312 

CHAPTER VIII 
The Northeast Boundary 353 

CHAPTER IX 
Last Days 405 



CORRESPONDENCE 

OF 

THOMAS BARCLAY 



CHAPTER I 

EARLIER YEARS 



Thomas Barclay was born in the city of New- York 
on October 12, 1753. He was an active and zeal- 
ous Loyalist during the Revolution, and at its close 
sought refuge in the Province, of Nova Scotia. In 
1799 he returned to New-York as British Consul-Gen- 
eral; and here, with brief interruptions, he resided 
until his death on April 21, 1830. Nearly fifty years 
of his life were spent in the public service of Great 
Britain, and yet he was by descent and marriage, as 
well as by birth and residence, essentially an American, 
and not an Englishman. He was indeed a very typical 
New-Yorker, of the pre-Revolutionary and loyal sort ; 
closely allied to the English Church and the Royal Gov- 
ernment, but tracing his descent back through four gen- 
erations to some of the earliest settlers in the colonies. 

John Barclay, the first of the name in America, was 
a member of an ancient Scottish family, and settled 
about 1683 in New Jersey, whither he had been di- 
rected through the influence of his brother Robert, the 
well-known author of the "Apology for the People 



2 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

called Quakers." It came about thus: the Duke of 
York, dividing up the great province granted him by 
his brother, had conveyed what is now New Jersey to 
Sir George Carteret and Lord Berkeley, whose shares 
were subsequently partitioned, East Jersey being set 
apart to Carteret. Carteret dying, East Jersey was sold 
to a company of twelve Quakers, who subsequently as- 
sociated with themselves twelve other persons, mostly 
Scotch; and to these twenty-four the Duke of York, 
on March 13, 1683, made a new confirmatory grant. 
Among the twenty-four proprietors were the Earl of 
Perth, William Penn, and Robert Barclay. Barclay 
was appointed by the proprietors to be Governor of 
East Jersey ; but he never visited the colony, adminis- 
tering its affairs in England. He sent out instead his 
younger brothers David and John. David came over 
in 1684, returned again to Scotland, and sailing from 
Aberdeen the end of August, 1685, died at sea. John 
had come over earlier, for he was back in London by 
the end of December, 1683, bringing letters from East 
Jersey. One may guess that he was then about twenty- 
five years old, for his parents were married on January 
26, 1648, and his mother died in 1663, leaving five chil- 
dren, of whom John appears to have been the youngest. 1 
By the first of August, 1684, John Barclay was back 
once more in New Jersey, living at Elizabethtown, 
whence he removed to Plain field, and finally settled at 
Perth Amboy.' 2 About 1685 he married a lady whose 
name alone is sufficient evidence of her descent. She 
was Cornelia Van Schaick 3 — a member, it would seem, 
of the extensive Van Schaick family of Albany. 

iGen. Acct. of the Barclays of Whitehead's Con. to Hist, of Perth 
Urie. London, 1812. Aniboy, p. 42. 

2 N. J. Arch., Vol. I, pp. 446, 459 ; 3 Holgate's Amer. Gen., p. 129. 



EARLIER YEARS S 

In April, 1692, John Barclay was appointed surveyor- 
general of East Jersey, and later on became deputy 
secretary and register, clerk of the council, clerk of 
the courts, and a member of the Provincial Assembly. 1 
He was not in favor during Lord Cornbury's turbulent 
administration ; and being in fact in violent opposition, 
was denounced in 1702 as one "of the Scotch and 
Quaker fractions concerned sundry years in y e divisions, 
& incendiary Parties, that has brought these Provinces 
into such Confusion of Governing Injustice to y e Pro- 
prietors, and aversion to y e Planters and Inhabitants." 2 
In later years, and with a change of administration, he 
came to be on better terms with the colonial authori- 
ties ; and he died in the spring of 1731, fully seventy 
years of age, generally respected and with the character 
of a good neighbor and a useful citizen. 3 

As we have seen, John Barclay was described as a 
Quaker in 1702. In point of fact he had by that time 
come over to the Church of England, being chiefly in- 
duced to that step by the influence of a very remark- 
able man — George Keith — who had himself been bred 
a Quaker, but had been united with the English Church, 
and, having taken orders, had been sent out to America 
by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. In 
1718 John Barclay was named as one of the church- 
wardens in the charter granted for St. Peter's Church 
in Perth Amboy, and he contributed liberally toward 
the erection of the church edifice. 4 

Before the establishment of St. Peter's Church, ser- 

1N. J. Arch., Vol. II, p. 81 ; Vol. 3 Smith's Hist, of N. J., p. 424. 

XIII, pp. 200, 227, 262, etc. ; White- 4 Whitehead's Con. to Hist. Perth 

head's Con. to Hist, of Perth Am- Amboy, pp. 21, 211, 218; Churchman's 

boy, p. 42. Mag., Vol. VIII, p. 356; Keith's Jour., 

2 N. J. Arch., Vol. II, p. 487. in Prot. Epi3. Hist. Coll., Vol. I. 



4 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

vices were occasionally held at Perth Amboy by an 
English clergyman, who was expected to minister to the 
whole region from Elizabethtown to Freehold. The Rev. 
Thorowgood Moore had attempted for a while to per- 
form that somewhat extensive duty; but in August, 
1707, his plain-speaking having offended drunken Lord 
Cornbury, he was thrown into prison, but escaped 
thence to Boston, and sailing for England, was lost at 
sea. Now this Mr. Moore, before coming to Perth Am- 
boy, had been a missionary at Albany and among the 
Indians, and we may well suppose that he did not fail, 
when he found a likely young man with a vocation for 
the ministry, to urge the noble work that might be done 
on the wild frontier about the head waters of the Hud- 
son River. Whether Mr. Moore did, indeed, find such 
a young man at Perth Amboy, and whether he did in- 
fluence the course of his career, must remain a conjec- 
ture ; but certain it is that Thomas Barclay, a son of 
John Barclay, went early in the eighteenth century to 
England, took orders, and was in due time sent, in his 
turn, by the Society for the Propagation of the Grospel, 
as missionary at Albany and among the Indians. He 
seems to have reached Albany in 1707, or 1708, and 
there we find him zealously laboring in September, 
1710. * He had been there for some months, catechiz- 
ing the youth, teaching Dutch children to make their 
responses in the English tongue, marrying and baptiz- 
ing in the absence of a Dutch minister, performing the 
Church of England services both in English and Dutch, 
shunning all controversies, and preaching once a month 
at Schenectady — "a village situated upon a pleasant 
river" — where there were about sixteen English and 

1 Doc. Hist, of N. Y., Vol. Ill, p. 540. 
See, also, Hill's Hist, of the Church in Burlington, N. J., pp. 64-90. 



EARLIER YEARS 5 

one hundred Dutch families; in short, a very busy, 
earnest, sensible young man. " More of the Dutch," he 
writes, " would accept my ministry but that Mr. De Bois, 
minister of the Dutch Congregation of New- York, comes 
sometimes to Albany. He is a hot man, and an enemy 
to our Church, but a friend to his purse, for he has 
large contributions from this place." There was at 
that time no minister of any church north of New- 
York but Mr. Barclay, for the former Dutch ministers 
at Albany and Schenectady had died or moved away. 
The Dutch had converted some thirty Indians, who 
were communicants, "but so ignorant and scandalous 
that they can scarce be reputed Christians." The neigh- 
boring Indians were well disposed to receive missiona- 
ries, but — writes Mr. Barclay — " I am sorry to tell you, 
sir, that I am afraid the missionaries that are coming 
over will find hard work of it, and if the commander of 
that fort [ Fort Hunter, at the lower Mohawk castle] be 
not a person of singular piety and virtue, all their endea- 
vors will be ineffectual; these, here, that trade with them, 
are loth that any religion get any footing among them ; 
besides, these savages are so given to drinking of that 
nasty liquor rum, that they are lost to all that is good." 
In 1714 the Governor granted a patent for building 
an English church in Albany, named, like the church 
at Perth Amboy, St. Peter's, and Thomas Barclay was 
appointed its first rector 1 — the services having thereto- 
fore been held in the fort — and in Albany the remain- 
der of his life was passed. We read, however, that he 
was for a short time in New- York, and assisted in the 
services of Trinity Church. 2 He died at Albany in the 
early part of the year 172'2. 

i Doc. Rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., Vol. VI, p. 88. 
2 Berrian's Hist. Sketch of Trinity Church, p. 34. 

1A 



6 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

Soon after settling in Albany he married Anna 
Dorothea Draeyer, or Drauyer, daughter of Andries 
Draeyer and Gerritje, his wife — who was, in turn, a 
daughter of Groosen Grerritse Van Schaick, of Albany, 1 
and probably a relative of John Barclay's wife. Of 
this marriage there were born three sons — Thomas, 
Anthony, and Henry. Thomas died unmarried. An- 
thony married Helena Roosevelt, became a merchant 
near New- York, and left many descendants, with whom, 
however, we have here no immediate concern. 

Henry Barclay was born at Albany, probably about 
1712, was entered at Yale College, and graduated at 
the head of his class in 1734. Returning to Albany, 
he was appointed, in 1735, catechist to the Mohawk In- 
dians, in whom he seems at all times to have taken the 
liveliest interest. In later years he made some prog- 
ress toward the translation of the Book of Common 
Prayer into the Indian language. 2 With youthful en- 
thusiasm, he took a far more hopeful view of the possi- 
bility of effecting permanent results than his father had 
done. He believed the prospect of converting the In- 
dians was " truly great," and he reported that he found 
them desirous of instruction. In 1737 he was recom- 
mended to the Society for the Propagation of the Gos- 
pel as a person of good morals and learning, who had 
many years applied himself with great diligence to 
learn the Indian language, and had made such progress 
as actually to instruct and catechize them in the Mo- 
hawk tongue. The society sent for him to England, 
and there, at the end of 1737, or beginning of 1738, he 

1 Holgate's Amer. Gen., p. 145. 

2 Doe. Rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., Vol. VIII, pp. 815-817; Doc. Hist, of N. Y., 
Vol. IV, pp. 206-217; Dexter'sYale Biog. Roc., p. 503. 



EARLIER YEARS 7 

was ordained. 1 Returning to Albany, he resumed his 
pious labors among the Indians, and succeeded to his 
father's cure as rector of St. Peter's. We find him writ- 
ing on November 10, 1738, still hopeful, that there grew 
a daily reformation among the Mohawks, and an in- 
crease of virtue proportionable to their knowledge. 

These rosy views and cheerful labors were destined 
to be soon ended. On him, too, fell the evils caused by 
the wickedness of Frederick of Prussia ; and when the 
whole world sprang to arms at Frederick's signal, and 
red men scalped each other by the great lakes of North 
America, that Frederick might rob a neighbor whom 
he had promised to defend, the quiet missionary in the 
valley of the Mohawk found that his dreams of Indian 
reformation and virtue were over. The Indians of the 
Six Nations had been temporarily quieted by the treaty 
held by Governor Clinton at Albany in the early sum- 
mer of 1744 ; but by 1745 northern New- York was 
aflame, and the French and Indians ravaged the coun- 
try as far south as Saratoga. In 1746 Albany had be- 
come the headquarters of a considerable army, and the 
Mohawks left their schools to enlist under the gentle 
influences of Sir William Johnson. 

Such were the depressing surroundings at Albany 
when, on July 11, 1746, the Rev. William Vesey — for 
fifty years the rector of Trinity Church in New- York — 
finished his earthly course. " He had," wrote the ves- 
try, " the inward pleasure of leaving in peace and good 
order one of the largest and finest Churches in Amer- 

1 The Bishop of London, writing have had with him, he seems a truly 

to Dr. Johnson, February 3, 1707-8, valuable man, and to have both abil- 

says of him :" As this comes by Mr. ity and disposition to do much 

Barclay, I need not say anything of good." — Churchman's Magazine, 

what has been done here withregard Vol. VII (1810), p. 311. 
to him. By all the conversation I 



8 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

ica, with a considerable congregation, who, almost with 
one voice, named the Rev. Mr. Barclay to succeed Mr. 
Vesey as Rector." They would not, they added, have 
presumed to call him from his labors in the service of 
the Society for the Propagation of the Grospel, had 
they not been " well satisfied that, since the war with 
France he had met with insupportable discouragement, 
which rendered his mission and best endeavours fruit- 
less, as well as the safety of his person precarious 
among those savages in the Mohawks' Country which, 
with many other parts of the County of Albany, being 
the frontiers of the province, is now deserted by the 
Christian Inhabitants, and almost laid waste by Bar- 
barians and French." The call was not declined. On 
October 17, 1746, Mr. Barclay attended a meeting of 
the vestry, and formally accepted ; and on the 22d of 
the same month, by authority of the Governor, he was 
inducted into the church with no lack of formal cere- 
monial. 1 The society which he had so zealously served 
very highly approved of his action under the circum- 
stances of the case ; but wrote requesting him to con- 
tinue the Mohawk Indians under his care, as far as 
was consistent with his care of Trinity Church. The 
temptation to read the society a lecture on geography 
must have been great, but Mr. Barclay successfully 
resisted it, and gravely replied that he feared no mis- 
sionary could reside among the Indians while the war 
should continue ; that if he had had the least prospect 
of doing so himself, he would not have laid down his 
employment ; and that he would do all in his power to 
keep alive and cherish that good seed which he had so 
happily sown among them. 

Mr. Barclay had not only come by ecclesiastical pre- 

1 Berrian's Hist. Sketch of Trinity Church, pp. 68-76. 



EARLIER YEARS 9 

ferment, but his removal to New- York led him to a 
very prudent and fortunate marriage. In 1749 he mar- 
ried Mary, the youngest daughter of Anthony Rutgers 
— a rich brewer, whose death had occurred about the 
time of Mr. Barclay's call to Trinity Church. 1 Mr. 
Rutgers had married the widow of Robert Benson — 
Cornelia de Roos, her maiden name — and left sons and 
daughters of unmixed Dutch descent, who, in their 
turn, multiplied plentifully. Mrs. Rutgers, by her first 
husband, had three children ; and of one of her grand- 
children, Egbert Benson, we shall hear later on. 

Of the marriage between Henry Barclay and Mary 
Rutgers — she pure Dutch, he one-fourth Scotch and 
three-fourths Dutch — there were born five children: 
Thomas, or Thomas H. Barclay, the eldest son, with 
whom we are here chiefly concerned; Anthony, who 
became a farmer at Newtown, L. I.; Catharine, who 
died young and unmarried; Cornelia, who married 
Stephen De Lancey ; and Anna Dorothea, who became 
the wife of Beverly Robinson. 

Henry Barclay's incumbency of Trinity Church 
seems to have been prosperous and peaceful. The 
growth of his congregation soon made it necessary 
to found a chapel of ease, and St. George's was estab- 
lished, to become in time a strong and independent 
parish. The New-York Society Library was founded, 
and Mr. Barclay was named as one of its first trustees. 
And in 1754 the long-cherished wish of many in New- 
York was realized by the granting of a royal charter 
for the founding of King's College — under the terms 
of which the rector of Trinity Church was to be always 
ex officio one of the governors. Columbia College to- 

1 His will is dated August 2, 1746, and was proved iu New-York, 
September 17, 1746. 



10 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

day owes nmch of its prosperity to the valuable grant 
from Trinity Church of a tract of land — then estimated 
to be worth £3000, and now yielding the college up- 
ward of $100,000 a year. This tract was conveyed upon 
the express condition that the president of the college 
should forever be a member of and in communion with 
the Church of England, and that the morning and 
evening service should be in the liturgy of that church. 
The same condition was in substance embodied in the 
charter, but this concession was only gained by the 
Church party after violent discussions, which gave rise 
to much angry debate in public and much anxious 
thought in the Trinity vestry. The Presbyterians, un- 
der the lead of William Livingston, were earnest in 
their opposition. The founding of a college under 
such sectarian influences was, they cried, but the en- 
tering wedge for bishops and tithes, and would surely 
end in the loss of religious freedom, " and even in per- 
secution itself." For a time the issue seemed in doubt ; 
but the Episcopalians remained firm and carried their 
point, and there is ample evidence that Mr. Barclay was 
a most active mover in the business, and steadfast to 
see that " a gift so valuable in itself, and so absolutely 
necessary," should "be a means of obtaining some 
priviledges to the Church." f 

His zeal and diligence were rewarded by the honor 
of a degree of Doctor of Divinity, conferred by the 
University of Oxford about January 1, 1761, at the per- 
sonal solicitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury. 2 

iBerrian's Hist. Sketch of Trin- 2 The letter from Archbishop 

ity Church, pp. 77, 101-105; Doc. Seeker to the vice-chancellor of the 

Eel. Col. Hist. N. Y., Vol. VI, pp. University has been preserved. It 

912-14 ; Jones's Hist, of N. Y., Vol. is dated November 22, 1760. 

I, pp. 10-17 ; Beardsley's Life and After discussing the advantages to 

Corr. of Samuel Johnson, p. 195. the cause of religion in the colonies 



EARLIER YEARS 



11 



Dr. Barclay did not live long to enjoy his academic 
honors. On August 20, 1764, he departed this life, be- 
loved and respected, leaving his wife and four children 
surviving. 

"Last Monday morning," says the New- York Mer- 
cury, of August 23, 1764, "between three and four 
o' Clock, departed this Life, in the 53d Year of his Age, 
the reverend Henry Barclay, D. D. Eector of Trinity 
Church ; in this City, and on the Tuesday following, his 
Remains, attended by the Clergy of the several De- 
nominations, the Grentlemen and Chief Inhabitants of 
the City, preceded by the Charity Scholars, who sung a 
Psalm, suitable to the melancholy Occasion, during the 
Procession, were carried to Trinity Church, where an ex- 
cellent Funeral Sermon, from Rev. 14, 13, was preached, 
by the Rev. Mr. Achmuty, to a prodigious large Audi- 



froin conferring the doctor's degree 
upon some of the principal clergy in 
those parts, the Archbishop prefers 
his request that that compliment be 
paid to Mr. Barclay, and continues : 
" It appears from the journals of the 
Society for the Propagation of the 
Gospel, that Mr. Barclay is the Son 
of a Missionary of that Society to 
the Indians on the frontiers of New 
York; that he was educated under 
Dr. Johnson at New Haven College; 
that in 1735 he was appointed by the 
Society Catechist to the Mohock In- 
dians, and in 1737 ordained priest, 
and settled as a missionary among 
them ; on which occasions the fullest 
testimonials were given in his favor 
by persons of the first rank and char- 
acter, Clergy & Laity; that having 
learnt the language of these Indians, 
he preached to them in it with such 
success as to form out of them a 



Christian Congregation of 500 per- 
sons, 61 of whom, in all appearance 
were worthy Communicants ; that he 
continued in this station till the year 
1745, when the French Indians, fall- 
ing on the Mohocks, obliged him to 
retire for the safety of his person ; 
that in 1746 he was chosen Eector of 
Trinity Church, vacant by the death 
of Mr. Commissary Vesey, and hath 
continued there ever since. Dr. 
Johnson saith further, that he is a 
prudent and laborious man, an ac- 
complished divine and an excellent 
preacher." On January 20, 1761, the 
Archbishop writes to Dr. Johnson an- 
nouncing that the degree had been 
unanimously conferred on Mr. Bar- 
clay, and offering his congratulations 
on this well-deserved compliment. 
Dr. Johnson was then President of 
King's College. See Doc. Bel. Col. 
Hist. N. Y., Vol. VII, pp. 451, 454. 



12 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

ence, who were extremely affected with the pathetic and 
moving Manner, in which they were addressed." 

Dr. Barclay's will bears date June 19, 1764. He be- 
queaths his books in English to his eldest son Thomas; 
his books in Dutch and other personal effects to his 
wife ; and the residue of his estate he gives, one-third 
to his wife and the other two-thirds to be equally di- 
vided among his four surviving children. He appoints 
as his executors his wife Mary Barclay, his brother 
Andrew Barclay, his brother-in-law Leonard Lispen- 
ard, and his friend David Clarkson. 

Thomas Barclay was not quite eleven years old when 
that moving funeral sermon was preached before the 
" prodigious large Audience," and the legacy of books 
in English came to him. No record remains to show 
what store he set by his books, or how he was taught, 
or where he went to school. One may easily picture 
him growing up in the little provincial town in the 
early days when George the Third was King; and one 
likes to think of his widowed mother encouraging him 
in a constant spirit of loyalty to his father's memory, 
and to the church and state of which his father had 
been in a manner the official representative. No doubt 
the boy, with the profound and assured conviction of 
youth, believed his father to have been the finest 
preacher in all the colonies, the Church of England the 
embodiment of all spiritual truth, the young King the 
ablest and best of rulers, and the system of govern- 
ment administered by Cadwallader Colden the perfec- 
tion of human reason. One form of education was 
certainly not lacking. The divine right of kings and the 
rights of the people must have been debated in every 
boy's hearing often enough in the stirring days when the 



EARLIER YEARS 13 

Stamp Act Congress was sitting in New- York, and the 
province was pointing the way to independence. 

In 1768 Thomas Barclay, not qnite fifteen years old, 
was entered at King's College. His father, his uncle 
Leonard Lispenard, and his father's friend David 
Clarkson were among the original governors of the 
college. The two latter were still sitting in the board, 
and Lispenard was its treasurer. Dr. Myles Cooper, 
late a fellow of Queen's College, Oxford — a jolly, con- 
vivial gentleman, and an eager supporter of the royal 
authority — was president; Dr. Clossy, of Dublin, and 
Mr. Harpur, from Glasgow, composed the remainder of 
the faculty ; but the classes were small as yet, and the 
instructors were thus " enabled to extend their plan of 
education almost as diffusely as any college in Europe." 
Diffuse was indeed the word. An appalling list of 
studies remains, drawn up by Dr. Cooper ; and we find 
divinity, natural law, and Hebrew taking their place 
with Latin, Greek, and mathematics, and " whatever 
else of literature may tend to accomplish the pupils as 
scholars and gentlemen." To judge by results, the col- 
lege system worked well. The best people in the place 
sent their sons, and the graduates were in good truth 
" scholars and gentlemen." Richard Harison, John 
Jay, Egbert Benson, Robert R. Livingston, John Watts, 
and Gouverneur Morris were among the most recent 
alumni. In the list of those who were fellow-students 
with Thomas Barclay we find the names of Pell, 
Knox, King, Ogden, Bogert, Philipse, Auchmuty, Rob- 
inson, Jauncey, Nicoll, Rapelje, Troup, Remsen, and 
Livingston — familiar to every student of the local 
history of New- York. 

The college influence was of course in a direction 



&' 



favorable to the crown. While the College of New Jer- 



14 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

sey was in the hands of the Presbyterians and the col- 
lege at New Haven was reckoned " a nursery of sedi- 
tion, of faction and of republicanism," 1 King's College 
was under the shadow of the Church, and governed by 
a board which included not only the principal officers 
of the province, but such earnest Loyalists as John 
Watts the elder, Frederick Philipse, Oliver and James 
De Lancey, Charles Ward Apthorpe, Thomas Jones, 
Jacob WaltoD, and John Harris Cruger. Indeed, of the 
college graduates down to 1776 a greater number were 
to be found in the King's troops than in the service of 
the Continental Congress. 

In the spring of 1772, when the long-threatening dis- 
content of the colonies was daily gathering force, when 
Samuel Adams was preaching sedition in Massachu- 
setts, and the men of Rhode Island were burning the 
Gaspee, Thomas Barclay was graduated. The com- 
mencement was held at Trinity Church on Tuesday, 
May 19th, in the presence of " a numerous and respect- 
able Audience," which included Governor Tryon and 
General Gage. After prayers, and " an elegant Latin 
Oration" by Rev. Mr. Inglis, Mr. Ogden delivered the 
salutatory oration " with great propriety of Pronunci- 
ation and gracefulness of Gesture." The audience was 
next agreeably entertained by Mr. Bowden, "whose 
elegant Composition and animated delivery did him 
much Honour." Then Mr. Skene "discovered much 
Brilliancy of Fancy and Refined Taste " ; Mr. Winter- 
ton and Mr. Muirson maintained a "Forensic Dispute " ; 
Mr. King "gain'd much Applause by an animated 
Latin Oration"; and Mr. Roebuck made fun of the 
" Bold Hypotheses of Presumptuous Philosophers and 
the Ridiculous consequences of Confidence and Dog- 

i Jones's Hist, of N. Y., Vol. I, p. 3. 



EARLIER YEARS 15 

matism " in a manner which " occasioned much mirth." 
The degrees having been conferred, " the Exercises of 
the Day were then concluded with a very sensible Vale- 
dictory Oration on Sociability by Mr. Barclay, whose 
judicious Observations and modest Address gave him 
universal Approbation. The Attention," adds the hon- 
est reporter, " paid by the Audience and the Satisfaction 
they expressed during the Course of the Exercises did 
much Honour to themselves, and the Speakers ; and must 
give pleasure to every Lover of Literature, and every 
true Patriot, who wishes to see the Sciences dissemi- 
nated and widely flourishing in this happy country." l 
Barclay made choice of the law for his profession, 
and it is the tradition of his family that he became a 
student in the office of John Jay. In due course he 
was admitted to the bar — probably about 1775, when 
he was just of age. It was not a favorable time for a 
young lawyer to enter upon his profession. Even in 
the city of New- York, distant as it was from the fields 
of actual conflict, the laws were silenced in the clash of 
arms. The news of the battle of Lexington brought 
turmoil and confusion. The Provincial Congress met 
(Leonard Lispenard and David Clarkson among them), 
and began raising troops and fortifying at Kingsbridge 
and along the Hudson. Washington passed through 
New- York for the eastward, stopping at Lispenard's 
house. Zealous Dr. Cooper, roused at midnight and 
huddling on a few of his clothes, jumped from a back 
window of King's College to escape a party bent on 
shaving his head and cutting off his ears; and never 
stopped till he found safety in a snug living in Eng- 
land. Governor Tryon withdrew from the town and 
prudently took refuge upon the Asia, man-of-war, 

l N. Y. Jour., May 28, 1772. 



16 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

where he transacted all his business and held his coun- 
cils. The courts were still sitting, but no business of a 
civil nature was transacted in them. Open outbreaks 
occurred between the people of the town and the crews 
of the King's ships, and on August 24th the Asia fired 
upon the city. Early in September one-third of the 
citizens had moved away. "Every office shut up 
almost," wrote John Morin Scott, " but Sam Jones's, 
who will work for 6/ a day and live accordingly — All 
Business stagnated, the City half deserted for fear of a 
Bombardment." ' Surely an unfavorable prospect for 
our young attorney. 

But dark as the future might seem — and it doubtless 
appeared darkest to those who believed most firmly in 
the courage and constancy of the revolted colonies — 
young gentlemen of Tory families were not to be fright- 
ened away from assuming new duties and responsibili- 
ties. Marrying and giving in marriage went on, al- 
though Montgomery and Arnold were marching into 
Canada, and Washington was drilling his minute- 
men under the elms at Cambridge. Were not ships 
coming across the sea to set the world right once 
more? And so, on October 2, 1775, Thomas Barclay 
and Susan De Lancey were married at West Farms, 
near New- York. 2 

i Lamb's Hist, of N. Y., Vol. II, nior, Esq., recorder of New-York, 

pp. 21-49; Jones's Hist, of N. Y., to Miss Jane De Laiicey; and Thomas 

Vol. I, pp. 39-63. H. Barclay, Esq., to Miss Susanna 

2 At the same time Mrs. Barclay's De Lancey, daughters of the late Pe- 

sister Jane was married to John ter De Lancey, Esq. 

Watts, the Recorder of New- York. 'Round their nuptial beds, 

The double marriage was thus an- Hovering with purple wings, th' Idalian 

nouneed in Rivington's Gazetteer: " oy 

.. m , . . . , Shook from his radiant torch, the bliss- 

" This evening were married at, . . .. 

Union Hill, in the borough of West- 0f inn0C ent desires. 

Chester, New-York, John Watts, Ju- while Venus scattered myrtles.' " 



EARLIER YEARS 17 

It was a singularly happy union. For more than fifty 
years this husband and wife were to live together in 
evil fortune and in good, secure in a most earnest and 
constant affection. Home and land might be lost, but 
from early youth to extreme old age they remained true 
and faithful to each other. In the dark days of exile no 
shadow of dissension seems ever to have come between 
them, and their later years were prosperous and happy. 

Susan (or Susanna) De Lancey was the fifth daughter 
of Peter De Lancey, and one of eleven children. She 
was born September 15, 1755, and was therefore not 
quite twenty at the time of her marriage. Her maternal 
grandfather was Cadwallader Colden, the sturdy old 
Scotch doctor who, as Lieutenant-Governor of the 
province, had so long contended against Stamp Act 
congresses and sullen assemblies and turbulent com- 
mittees of safety, and who was now living retired in his 
new house at Flushing. Her paternal grandfather was 
a Huguenot refugee of a good Norman family, who 
had drifted from France to Holland, from Holland to 
England, and from England to New- York, and had 
here married a Van Cortlandt of the old Dutch stock. 
The family is famous in the local annals of New-York 
as the stanchest supporter of the royal authority and 
the Church of England. One of Susan De Lancey's 
uncles — James De Lancey — had been Chief Justice of 
the province, and Colden's predecessor in the office of 
Lieutenant-Governor. Another uncle — Oliver De Lan- 
cey — was a General in the British service. A cousin — 
Stephen De Lancey — who had married Cornelia Bar- 
clay, was a Colonel in the King's troops; and their eldest 
son was Wellington's chief- of- staff at Waterloo, where 
he lost his life. One of Mrs. Barclay's brothers — James 
De Lancey — raised a loyal regiment in Westchester 



18 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

County. Another James, a cousin, the Lieutenant- 
Governor's son, was the agent for the Loyalists in Eng- 
land after the peace, and so lost his great estate in the 
heart of the city of New- York. Oliver De Lancey, the 
General's son, succeeded Andre as Adjutant-General of 
the British forces, and died a Lieutenant-General. 
With few exceptions, the men of the family were stren- 
uous in their support of British authority to the very 
last, and died in exile; but one or two of them, and 
notably one of Mrs. Barclay's brothers, courageously 
refused to take arms against the country of their birth. 
The city of New- York, as we have seen, had so 
clearly become an undesirable residence for profes- 
sional gentlemen, that our young married couple took 
up their abode in Ulster County, "at the Wallkill," near 
Coldenham, in what is now a part of Orange County, 
where grandfather Colden owned large tracts of land. 
But Ulster was no place of repose for Tories, or even 
for those who were willing to be neutral in the great 
contest just beginning. The committees of safety in 
the various counties were not content with anything 
short of open and unqualified adherence to the Con- 
tinental cause, and were only too willing to find oc- 
casions for discovering enemies to the State. The 
powers of these committees were as vague as they were 
extensive, and were often exercised harshly and un- 
justly. It was the common course of procedure to 
summon individuals who were suspected of a leaning 
to the British cause and to tender them the oath of 
allegiance to the State, or the " general association," 
which included a pledge to take up arms against the 
King; and arrest, imprisonment, and banishment fol- 
lowed a refusal. To speak disrespectfully of the Con- 
gress, or to refuse to take Continental money at par, 



LTFJR YE 1 9 

_■ d grounds for arr sst All who were not known 
to be well afl ame objects of silly suspicion; 

and nervous people imag 

be hatching all about them, and worried 
and bullied their neighbors, until the - like to 

drive into opposition many of those who had pre- 
viously been not very unfavorable to the cause of the 
colonies. 

In the rough county of Ulster we may well imagine 
that the farmers a.. I imen w 

dealing with sua 

majorr — .1 much ppo- 

sition — was ini . 
in the " ben the batt 

_• . - . - " - 

Americans 1 .'-'."-... laid 

- ithward, an 
the British army as a 
For the 

tall see, a " ■ ■ — -■ 

6 _■ i ■ i _■ . . . 
\ Virginia, " - ""• 

eing twenty-th 

tain in Be L - 

koth 
gallant - 

a 

- 

of the - Acting 6 

ins .."- 
— 

. - --- 



20 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

Washington's Mary Philipse, — and through her Rob- 
inson had acquired large tracts of land bordering the 
Hudson River. His residence opposite West Point 
acquired a tragic notoriety as the headquarters of 
Benedict Arnold; and, indeed, Colonel Robinson was 
himself actively concerned in events of September, 
1780. He had accompanied Andre on that disastrous 
journey up the river, and from the Vulture, " off Sin- 
sink" (Sing Sing), he wrote to Washington, recalling 
their early friendship, and demanding in peremptory 
fashion Andre's immediate release. At the close of the 
war Colonel Robinson retired to England,where he died. 

The Lieutenant-Colonel was Beverly Robinson, Jr., 
the Colonel's son. He was born in New- York in 1755, 
graduated at King's College in 1773, and returning long 
after the peace, died here in 1816. As we have seen, he 
had married a sister of Thomas Barclay. 

From 1776 to the late summer of 1781 Barclay was 
constantly employed in active service. The long period 
of negotiation followed, to be terminated in the spring 
of 1783 by the announcement of the ratification of the 
provisional treaty of peace. The Loyalist troops were 
disbanded, their officers were placed on half pay, and 
the wave of British invasion began to recede, sweeping 
away in its retreat prodigious numbers of American 
loyalists, who were scattered to England, to Canada, 
to Bermuda, and to Nova Scotia, to begin life again 
under another sky. Tens of thousands of these un- 
happy people sailed away into exile during this year of 
1783, and with them went Thomas Barclay, accom- 
panied by his wife and four little children — the eldest 
not seven years old. 

Under the act of the New-York Legislature of Octo- 
ber 22, 1779, he had been attainted and convicted of 



EARLIER YEARS 21 

high treason ; his property was declared to be forfeited 
to and vested in the people of this State ; he was for- 
ever banished ; and it was provided that if he should 
be at any time found within the State, he should be de- 
clared guilty of felony and should suffer death without 
benefit of clergy. He was just thirty years old when 
New- York was evacuated, and except his half pay he 
had little left but a sturdy frame and a stout heart. 

Writing nine years later to his friend Brook Watson, 
in London, he thus recounted his services to the Brit- 
ish crown : * 



TO BROOK WATSON. 

Annapolis, 20 th Ocf 1792. 

Dear Sir : I have now some Business of my own I wish to 
trouble you with, and I have no doubt of success should you 
find yourself at liberty heartily to unite with two or three of 
my other friends in England. It has only wanted a person of 
some Interest and Activity to obtain it these three years, for I 
am certain if the facts were known to the Minister or Lords of 
the treasury it would not be denied. Of your wish to serve 
me from your past favors and Professions I can and have no 
doubt, — I have only to request if it is in the least inconvenient 
or militates with any other object you may have in view, you 
will by no means comply with my request. 

The application I wish my friends to make is for a pension 
in lieu of the professional Loss I stand reported for by the Am" 
Commissioners and which my half pay by the act of Parlia- 

1 Brook Watson had a singular He became a leading merchant in 

and adventurous career. He was of London, a Member of Parliament, 

humble origin, and had sought his a Baronet, and Lord Mayor of Lon- 

f ortune in all parts of the world. He don. A sketch of his life will be 

was for a time Commissary-General found in Nova Scotia Hist. Coll., 

of the British forces in America. Vol. II, p. 135. 

2A 



22 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

ment excludes me from receiving. 1 It is improper and useless 
to urge any argument against the exception in the act of Par- 
liament, but it strikes me as extremely obvious that Gentlemen 
who bore an active part during the War and hardly earned 
their pay, merit some thing more than those drones who re- 
mained inactive, and were a dead weight on Government re- 
ceiving an allowance of money and provision without doing 
any thing for it. The professional Compensation includes 
most of the latter description and very few of the former. 
However I neither could expect or would I apply for a pension 
were there not several Instances of them, and as I conceive my- 
self equally entitled with any officer who served and have as 
ample certificates of my behavior and Services as can be 
penned, I deem it but Justice to my numerous family to re- 
quest the aid of my friends to obtain that we so much want 
and others under similar circumstances enjoy. — I shall name 
only three Gentlemen who receive these pensions altho' there 
are many more. They are Gentlemen of family Character and 
every way deserving of the attention of Government. The 
first, Col. Cruger, 2 merits it also on the Score of important 
Services and spirited behavior. The two others, majors Van 
Cortlandt 3 and Bayard 4 can have no claims from Service, hav- 
ing seen but very little if any. It is disagreeable for me to say 
anything on the Score of my own, but as I am writing to you 
what to urge in favor of my pretensions, you will not I trust 
look on it as proceeding from vanity or savoring of Egotism. 

1 The act referred to is 23 Geo. sioners was presented to Parliament 

III., Chap. 80, passed in July, 1783, in March, 1790. 

under which a board of three com- 2 John Harris Cruger, Lieutenant- 
missioners was created " for enquir- Colonel of De Lancey's First Bat- 
ing into the respective Losses and talion. Best known for his brilliant 
Services of all such Persou and Per- defense of the fort at Ninety-Six, in 
sons who have suffered in their South Carolina, June, 1781. 
Rights. Properties and Possessions, 3 Philip Van Cortlandt, Major of 
during the late unhappy Dissentions the Third Battalion, New Jersey 
in America, in consequence of their Volunteers. 

Loyalty to His Majesty, and Attach- 4 Samuel Bayard, Major of the 

ment to the British Government." King's Orange Rangers. 
The final statement of the commis- 



EARLIER YEARS 



23 



In the spring of the year 1776 I was driven from my home 
by the Americans and joined the Royal Army, wherein I 
acted as a volunteer during the Campaign of that year. 1 In 
the beginning of 1777 I joined Col: Robinson in raising a 
Corps and was that Summer at the storming of Forts Clinton 
and Montgomery. My Behavior there met the approbation of 
Sir Henry Clintou and he promoted me to the Majority of the 
Regiment. At that time I went out for him on a feigned flag 
of truce in order to discover General Putnam's & Parson's 
Situation, — Sir Henry being apprehensive the latter had 
marched to attack the Lines at Kings Bridge then very weakly 
defended. This I effected at the risque of my Life, having 
been detained a day and a half on Suspicion of being a Spy, 
and brought Sir Henry at Verplanks Point agreeable and pos- 
itive Information. In 1778 I served on Board the Carrysfort 
Frigate with 100 of the Reg 1 as Marines while the French 
fleet were at Rhode Island and at the Hook near New York. 2 
In '79 was in Connecticut under General Tryon, 3 and during 



1 The "spring" of 1776 seems to 
be an error. Lord Howe only reached 
Staten Island July 12, 1776, so that 
Barclay could not have joined the 
Royal Army before that time. He 
may, however, have left Ulster Coun- 
ty earlier and gone to Queens Coun- 
ty, which was a much more congenial 
locality. His first child was born 
at Flushing, December 3, 1776. A 
week earlier, on November 27, 1776, 
the Committee of Safety, sitting at 
Fishkill, — having before it "an in- 
ventoi'y of the personal Estate late 
belonging to Thomas Barclay of 
Ulster County," who had "some 
months since gone over to the enemy 
on Nassau Island," — ordered Wil- 
liam Duer to take all the hay, for- 
age, and grain from Barclay's farm 
for the use of the army, and directed 
that the live stock be sold at pub- 



lic auction — reserving only so much 
as might be needed for the support 
of Mr. Fowler, the overseer, and 
his family, and the slaves on the 
farm. Journals Prov. Cong. , Vol . I, 
p. 721. 

2 The Carrysfort was a frigate of 
twenty-eight guns, commanded by 
Captain Robert Fanshaw. On Au- 
gust 18, 1778, we read in Montre- 
sor's Journal that she was lying, 
with the Camilla and the Zebra, 
near Flushing, and that on the 
20th "the Regiment of New York 
Loyalists embarked on board the 
frigates at Flushing " were ordered 
to land "and take up their old 
ground." N. Y. Hist. Soc. Coll., 
1881, p. 510. 

3 This was in July, 1779. On the 
night of July 4th and the morning 
of the 5tb, 1779, Governor Tryon 



24 



CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 



the remainder of the Season composed one of the Garrison at 
Verplanks Point (opposite Stony Point) under L l Col. Web- 
ster x who commanded from May to Aug', during which period 
I had the care and command of the right hand redoubt which 
from having it in the magazine sustained the whole of the 
cannonade and bombardment of the Americans for four days 
from Stony Point which they had gained. 2 About the last of 
August the 33 Rg' & Col Webster left Verplanks Point when 
the Commander in chief appointed me to the command on the 
Recommendation of Col. Webster, with a Garrison of 600 
men two thirds of whom were ill with Agues and fevers. I 
maintained the Post until ordered to evacuate it in Nov r , 3 
notwithstanding Mr. Washington and his whole army were 
within a days March and reconoitering our Works and attack- 
ing the Picquets daily. During the Winter of 79 & 80 I was 
twice in the Jerseys in command, once with a detachment of 
the Guards, the second time with German Troops. In 1780 I 



landed near New Haven. A stand 
was made by the defenders at West- 
bridge, on the Milford road, and the 
British were foreedto turn from their 
path. At Thompson's Bridge, on the 
Derby road, another skirmish har- 
assed the British, but New Haven 
was entered, plundered, and sacked. 
The President of Yale was among 
those maltreated. Leaving New 
Haven, the fleet sailed to Fairfield. 
Little resistance was made, and the 
town was plundered and burned. 
Green's Farms was the next object 
of the vengeance of Tryon, and was 
almost utterly destroyed. On the 
11th Norwalk was entered and de- 
stroyed. Tryon was then recalled 
to New- York. 

1 James Webster was the son of 
a Scotch clergyman of Edinburgh. 
He came to America as Major of the 
Thirty-third Foot, was promoted to 



be Lieutenant-Colonel, and was 
killed at the battle of Guilford, North 
Carolina, March 14, 1781. Lee, in 
his Memoirs of the War, p. 292, de- 
clares that Webster was the first 
among the officers of Cornwallis's 
army. 

2 General Wayne retook Stony 
Point on the morning of July 16, 
1779, and held it for only a few days. 
That post, and the woi'ks at Ver- 
planck's Point on the east side of 
the river, had been captured by Sir 
Henry Clinton in May. 

3 Barclay, writing from memory, 
is not quite accurate in his dates. 
Verplanck's Point was evacuated on 
the morning of October 21, 1779, 
when the British set fire to their 
buildings, and, embarking on trans- 
ports, sailed down to New- York. 
See Memoirs of Maj.-Gen. Heatb, 
p. 220. 



EARLIER YEARS 25 

was attached to the provincial Light Infantry, 1 served with 
General Leslie in Virginia where I commanded the advanced 
Post, 2 and afterwards in Carolina under Lord Rawdon. In 
Carolina we were frequently in Action, in one of which (at 
Kanty's house) I received two wounds in the same charge. 3 
When Lord Rawdon resigned the Command in Carolina I was 
requested by him to carry his Dispatches by Sea to Lord 
Cornwallis at Yorktown in Virginia, and was taken at the 
Enterance of the Capes by the French fleet in attempting 
to make my way through them to his Lordship, was a Pris- 
oner with the French during the Action off the Capes under 
Ad. Graves and Count de Grasse, 4 — obtained my parol in a 
few days after, and arrived at New York in time to give the 
Commanders in Chief by Sea and Land very full and neces- 
sary information. From that period the offensive part of the 
War ceased — Lord Dorchester 5 arrived and yourself with 
him — you therefore my dear Sir can say what Character I 
had at New York as an officer and have therefore only to add 
that after the War instead of going to England to prosecute 
my claims and obtain a pension as many officers did, — I came 
to Nova Scotia at Lord Dorchester's & your request to locate 
the Lands for the provincial troops in company with Col. D. 

1 This was the Corps of Provincial defeat at King's Mountain, aban- 
Light Infantry, made up of frag- doned his march to Virginia; and 
ments of several Loyalist regiments, on November 22, 1780, Leslie reem- 
and placed under the command of barked his detachment and sailed 
Lieutenant-Colonel Watson. Wat- for Charleston. 

son was an Englishman by birth, 3 This affair was probably a skir- 

and a Captain and Lieutenant-Colo- mish between Watson's Light Infan- 

nel in the Third Foot Guards. His try and Marion. Canty's house is 

corps was very constantly and ac- shown on the map prefixed to Tar- 

tively employed in the Carolinas. leton's Letters, etc., and lies about 

He rose eventually to the rank of fifteen miles east of Nelson's Ferry 

General, and died in France in 1826. on the Santee, on the road to George- 

2 General Leslie, with about 3000 town. 

men, was sent by Sir Henry Clin- 4 September, 1781. 

ton to meet Cornwallis in Virginia 5 Lord Dorchester, better known 

in October, 1780. Leslie occupied in our history as Sir Guy Caiieton, 

Portsmouth without opposition ; but arrived in New-York as Sir Henry 

Cornwallis, in consequeuce of the Clinton's successor, in May, 1782. 



26 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

L. 1 & Ed. Winslow. 2 How well we executed this trust T leave 
you to speak. — This I may safely add, the Province of New 
Brunswic owes its present existence to our exertions and rep- 
resentations to you. 

From this detail you will observe I have been on actual 
Service and in action more or less every campain from 
1777 to 1781. The copies of Certificates inclosed will prove 
how well I served. The originals have been delivered into 
the Treasury. If more were necessary Generals Leslie, 
Vaughn and Mathews — Cols. Watson, Small and Balfour 
and all the officers of the Guards 63 & 64 Regts. who served in 
Virginia and Carolina would cheerfully certify — Lady South- 
ampton (who is a cousin German of Mrs. B's) has promised 
her Lords Good offices in my favor. 3 I have given you as full 
a Statement as I think requisite. My recommendations are 
ample. My Presence in the County of Annapolis has contrib- 
uted more to its improvement, and retaining the Loyalists 
here than auy other person, and the Henry settlement in Wil- 
mot exceeds any new one in either province. Those pursuits, 
which dearly benefit the parent state have been the obstruc- 
tions to my coming over to London — I conceived it a duty in- 
cumbent on me at the close of the War to attend those who 
had faithfully served their king and see them comfortably 
setled — Had I gone home in 1783 or any subsequent year by 
my personal attendance, added to the Interest of my friends, I 
should have procured a temporary support and a pension 
afterwards. In case you my friends should not succeed this 
Winter, I must cross the Atlantic and try my own exertions. 
I have a family of ten Children and find my half pay and prac- 
tice unequal to their maintenance even with studied Economy, 

1 James De Lancey, Mrs. Bar- the Loyalist forces. He died in New 
clay's brother. Brunswick in 1815. 

2 Edward Winslow, Jr., born in 3 Lady Southampton was the 
Massachusetts about 1745, gradu- daughter of Admiral Sir Peter War- 
ated at Harvard, 1765. He was a ren, whose wife was Susan De Lan- 
Colonel in the King's service, and in cey, Mrs. Barclay's aunt. 

1782 was Muster-Master-General of 



EARLIER YEARS 27 

and ^riien I have made this last Attempt I shall set down 
satisfied that I have left nothing untried. — 

Copies of Certificates which accompanied Major Barclay's 
Application to the right Hoti hle the Lord Commissioners of 
His Majesttjs Treasury. 

I Certify, That I always considered Major Barclay of Colo- 
nel Beverly Robinsons Regiment of Provincials as a very 
zealous active officer, and in every respect intitled to the At- 
tention of Government 

H: Clinton L' Gen 1 . 

I Certify, That Thomas Barclay Esq r Major to Colonel 
Robinsons Regiment of Provincials served under my com- 
mand in Carolina, and merited much praise for his activity, 
courage and conduct on every occasion. His zeal was equally 
conspicuous in the earlier Period of the War, I, therefore, beg 
leave to recommend him Strongly to the Commissioners tho' 
he is not here in Person to make his application. 

Rawdon. 

London Feb ry 5th 1790. 

I do Certify, that as Inspector General of the late Provincial 
Forces in North America, I had an opportunity of being per- 
sonally acquainted with the Character of Major Thomas Bar- 
clay of the Loyal American Regiment commanded by Colonel 
Beverly Robinson ; and can give the most ample Testimony 
of his Zeal, Spirit and Loyalty, from the earliest period of the 
Rebellion, and of his Worth and good Conduct as an Officer. 

Alex: Innes, 
(late) Insp r Gen 1 of P. Forces. 

I do hereby Certify, that Major Thomas Barclay, late of 
Colonel Beverly Robinsons Regiment of Loyal Americans, 
served during the War in a very distinguished manner — I 
think his Zeal, Bravery and good Conduct, which has been 
shown on so many occasions, give him the fullest Claim to the 



28 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

favour of Government ; I therefore beg leave to recommend 
him in the Strongest manner to the Commissioners of Ameri- 
can Claims, as worthy of every Indulgence that can be shown 
to him. 

Ol: De Lancey 
late Adju 1 Gen 1 N° Am'. 

I do Certify, that I was intimately acquainted with Major 
Thomas Barclay, late of the Province of New York, many 
Years before the Late dissensions in America. That he was 
bred to the Profession of the Law, and had entered into the 
practice of that Profession before the Troubles began. — That 
he purchased an Estate in the County of Ulster on which he 
was Settled, was very much respected by all Ranks of People, 
and had as fair and promising prospects of success as any 
young Gentleman in His Line of Business. 

That he took an early and active part in the cause of Great 
Britain, by opposing the proceedings of the Americans, for 
which reason he became so obnoxious to the Leaders in Rebel- 
lion, that he was obliged to quit his Estate and business, and 
fly to the Kings Army in the Latter part of the year 1776. 

That in March 1777, He joined the Loyal American Regi- 
ment as Captain, and by his great exertions and activity was 
very serviceable in raising that Corps, in which he served 
as Captain till the Month of October following, when he was 
for his Bravery and good Conduct at the Attack and taking of 
Fort Montgomery on the Hudson River, and for other essen- 
tial Services, during that Expedition, Promoted to the Rank 
of Major in the Sd Regiment; That he continued with the 
Regiment from this time to the summer of 1780, and was 
always on active Service either with the whole Regm* or De- 
tachments from it, and on every occasion gained Credit to 
himself and the approbation of His superior Officers. 

That in the year 1780, when Sir Henry Clinton ordered a 
Corps of Light Infantry to be formed from the Provincial 
Line, under the command of Colonel Watson, Major Barclay 
desirous of being employed in the most active Line of duty, of- 



EARLIER YEARS 29 

fered his services to Sir Henry Clinton, and requested he 
would appoint him second in command to Colonel Watson, 
which Sir Henry was pleased with, and gave him that Ap- 
pointment; with this Corps he went to Virginia under the 
command of General Leslie, and from there to South Caro- 
lina. In both these Provinces he served with great Credit and 
Reputation, and to the Approbation of the different Comman- 
ders under whom he did serve. 

Bev. Robinson. 

Wilmot, to which our exiles had retreated at the 
close of the war, lies on the railway near the head of 
the pleasant valley of Annapolis, and about half-way 
between the villages of Annapolis and Grand Pre. It 
is even at the present time a remote and thinly settled 
region, with a few scattered hamlets and farm -houses 
strung along the course of the little river, and the deep 
forest stretching away from the hills on either side. 
But in 1783 the forest primeval and the murmuring 
pines and the hemlocks stood untouched through the 
entire valley, except where the clearings reached out 
under the walls of the deserted French fortress of Port 
Royal. The long and desperate struggles between the 
English invaders on the one side, and the Acadians and 
their Indian allies on the other, were indeed at an end. 
The banished Loyalist found no worse enemies than 
winter and rough weather, but the forces of nature 
were in their fullest vigor of resistance and were not 
easily to be subdued. 

Of the bitter struggles of those first years of banish- 
ment in the heart of the wild forest of Nova Scotia 
only a scanty record remains, and we can but dimly 
picture the daily recurring dangers and privations to 
which these unwilling pioneers were subject; but with 
a brave spirit difficulties were met and overcome, and 



30 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

children were born and grew into vigorous manhood 
amid those discouraging surroundings. Major Bar- 
clay, we are told, " with his own hands levelled the for- 
est on his new possession, which gratefully rewarded his 
toil and perseverance ; while he converted the settlement 
of troops into a respectable society of which he soon be- 
came physician, pastor, counsellor and judge. By his 
industry in farming, he supported a large family, until 
finding his colony in a prosperous and orderly state, he 
removed to Annapolis Royal about the year 1789, to pur- 
sue his profession at the bar, which he exercised with 
great success through the province of Nova Scotia." 1 

As a successful country lawyer, he naturally entered 
the public service, and in 1785 was elected a member 
of the General Assembly of the province. On March 20, 
1793, he became speaker of that body — a post which he 
retained until 1799, when he removed to New- York. 

For a time his old military experience came again 
into demand. At the outbreak of the French Revolu- 
tion fears were entertained of an invasion of the mari- 
time provinces, and militia regiments were raised both 
in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Major Barclay 
became Lieutenant-Colonel of a regiment, and for a 
time was Adjutant-General of the provincial forces. 2 

1 Curweu's Journal and Letters, with me, that I could render His 
edited by G. A. Ward, p. 598. Majesty more essential Service by 

2 Writing in 1817 to the Foreign raising a Corps of fencible militia in 
Office, in reply to an inquiry as to Nova Scotia, which I did without 
his rank in the army, Barclay said : incurring any expense to Govern- 
" In the year 1793 His Majesty was raent. My rank therefore is that of 
graciously pleased to appoint me a Provincial Lieut. -Col., but when I 
Lieutenant-Colonel to the Royal draw half pay, I receive that of Ma- 
Nova Scotia Regiment, which situ- jor of the late Loyal American Regi- 
ation I held only a few months, as ment. It is however now upwards 
Sir John Wentworth, then Governor of eighteen years since I have drawn 
of Nova Scotia, agreed in opinion half pay." 



EARLIER YEARS 31 

These varied activities are but slightly reflected in 
the following correspondence. Such letters as have 
been preserved deal mainly with matters of current 
business, and rarely touch on questions of public inter- 
est; but his allusions to the condition of the Loyalists 
in Nova Scotia and the prospects of the colony are 
perhaps not unworthy of preservation. 

TO LIEUT. FENWICK, CHATHAM, ENGLAND. 

27 October, 1790. 
Sir: 

Mr. Cutler on his arrival in this Province delivered me your 
favor of the 31st of August with Letter Attorney inclosed. I 
shall most chearfully undertake the agency you request, hav- 
ing a fellow feeling for those whose property is remote from 
their residence and whose situation prevents their personal 
attendance. Since the peace in 1783 my mother died in the 
State of New York in North America, and devised a fourth 
part of her Estate to my Children (being myself from attain- 
der incapable of inheriting) and altho she has been dead more 
than four years and I have written innumerable Letters to the 
Executors, still I have never been able to bring about a divi- 
sion or Sale. 1 . . . 

Should you incline to sell [your farm] you may let me know 
the lowest price you wish it to go at as I will set it up at that 
and if any one gives more let him have it. I shall want a 

1 "Four years" is a mistake, filled its duties with uniformity and 
Mary Barclay died on Sunday, June zeal, the reward of which she is now 
8, 1788, only a little more than two reaping, while her children must de- 
years before the date of this letter, plore the loss of a most tender pa- 
" The hearts of all who knew Mrs. rent, the poor a cheerful contributor, 
Barclay," said the New-York Doily and all her acquaintance a pleasing 
Advertiser, in announcing her death, friend." Her executors were Eg- 
" will testify to her worth. From a bert Benson, Samuel Bayard, and 
long and intimate acquaintance with John Watts, Jr. 
the precepts of Christianity, sheful- 



32 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

Letter of Attorney ennabling me to sell either together or by 
divisions, as it is possible it may fetch more in parcels. 

In Conntrys like this it is impossible to say whether lands 
will increase in value superior to the money at interest. Since 
the year 1786 they have greatly decreased in this Province, 
owing to the immense number of Loyalists returning to the 
united States. At present they are rather on the rise. My 
own opinion is that money at use here is preferable to Lands; 
and ever will be in this frozen Zone. 



TO WM. STURGE MOORE. 

Annapolis, 7th Juno, 1791. 
Dear Sir: 

Your favor of the 6th April came to me the 31st of May. I 
am sorry to find you still undetermined about coming out, and 
at your Silence in answer to mine of the 27th of Dec'r wherein 
I requested you to let me know how much I should bid at 
Auction for you on the Sale of the Parrsborough Estate— The 
two other Trustees and myself were of opinion it would be 
more satisfactory to Captain Moore, yourself and the Credit- 
ors that White Hall should be sold at Publick Auction to the 
highest Bidder, than to you at the Price I offered, to wit £400. 
As soon therefore as we came to this determination I wrote 
you and begged your orders how far I should bid for you at 
the Auction. I was aware it was possible some person or 
other knowing your demand might run it up to a Considera- 
ble amount, and tho' far Short of the balance due you, sell 
more than its present value. I declined therefore having the 
Auction until I had your order to what amount I might bid— 
You are now therefore to make up your mind whether you 
will remove to Nova Scotia and of course take White Hall or 
whether it shall be sold and brought in for you or not as 
it may happen. This my dear sir to you is a question of mo- 
ment and I should advise you not only seriously to Consider 
it your Self but also to take the advice of your friends at 
home on the Subject. Nova Scotia is neither like Great Brit- 
ain or even Pensylvania where lands bring in a certain an- 



EARLIER YEARS 33 

nual profit and expences may be ascertained to almost a farth- 
ing; was I to consult my own feelings and Inclinations I would 
advise you to come, but as your friend who wishes your Inter- 
est it is my duty to give you a faithful detail and leave you to 
make up your own mind — Parrsborough is by no means a 
flourishing settlement, most of the half pay officers settled 
there deeply involved and no prospect of any success in the 
mercantile Line — If your views are agricultural, I am satis- 
fied you had better make a present of White Hall and pur- 
chase a farm already cultivated than to undertake the Clearing 
of new lands — I speak from experience that the cultivation 
of new lands in Nova Scotia is attended with Double the ex- 
peuce that you might purchase a good farm for — To set 
down at Parrsborough for the sake of a Good house, is like a 
hungry man setting down to a table well set out with a variety 
of empty plate and Dishes. The house at Parrsborough how- 
ever is not finished and will cost at least £200 pounds to com- 
pleat it. No Gentleman in this Province can farm to advan- 
tage. I speak from experience and I believe I managed as 
well as most persons, what your Situation at home is I know 
not, but if you can live there in a Comfortable retired manner 
without losing your Capital, never remove to this Country — 
I have Given you my Opinion with a Candour I conceved ne- 
cessary and which to you I hope will not be disagreeable. I 
beg however you not rely on it solely, but take the advice of 
friends able to give it you. Let me know your Determination 
and what Sum I am to go to for you. Should 3^011 determine 
to remain in England I would advise you if £400 is bid for 
Whitehall to let it go, and even loose a part rather than be en- 
cumbered with inproductive place, and a house which time 
every day renders less valuable. 



34 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

TO RUFUS CHANDLER. 1 

Annapolis, 6th Nov., 1791. 

My dear Chandler: 

Your favor of the 11 Aug and its duplicate I have duly 
rec'd and am greatly obliged to you for your Attention to my 
troublesome commissions and the affectionate Chearfulness 
with which you transact them. Your Letter I have shewn to 
the Gentlemen of this place who Desire me to return you their 
best thanks and to request you will send them out an Engine 
of the size of No. 2 made in the best and most substantial 
Manner. Also the extra 21 feet Suction Pipe. 

I had seen Kinyons determination about assigning half pay 
in an English News Paper. 2 I can not say it meets my ap- 
probation, nor do I think it tends to preserve bonos mores 
in Society. Half pay is as Clear a Chattel as a man can be 
possessed of; neither can I subscribe to any of the Arguments 
adduced in favor of those who oppose its being assignable — 
The Half pay is the property of the Officer as long as he lives 
(unless he commits an act that excludes him from it — that how- 
ever is out of the question) it is a certain half yearly income 
that is ascertained to a fraction. It is the reward of past 
Services and his exclusive property. If this is the case surely 
he has a right to do with it as he pleases. A man possessed 
of a lease for a term of years or of an Annuity has a right to 
Assign them to any other person and to direct the rents Issues 
Profits or money to be paid him. When once his Assign- 
ment is made the Assignor is bound and cannot make his Act. 
Why then shall not a half pay officer have the same power? 

1 Rufus Chandler was born at doubtless meant ; in which he held 
Worcester, Mass., in 1747; gradu- that half pay could not legally be 
ated at Harvard College in 1766, and assigned, as it would be highly im- 
practised law until the outbreak of politic to permit creditors to reach 
the Revolution, when he removed emoluments of this sort, as they "are 
to Nova Scotia. He subsequently granted for the dignity of the State 
took up his residence in England, and for the decent support of those 
and died in London in 1823. persons who are engaged in the ser- 

2 Lord Kenyon's decision in Flarty vice of it." 
v. Odium, 3 Bum ford § East, 682, is 



EARLIER YEARS 35 

It is because he is a fool — a madman — or a Spend thrift — 
To call ns all so is paying ns a very bad compliment. — The 
determination has only one Effect, to wit : to give Men of that 
Class an Opportunity of being Rogues if they please and of 
Spending their pay in a dissolute Gaol to the Injury of their 
Creditors and the ruin of their own healths and Morals. 

Mrs. Barclay desires her best regards to you and requests 
you will purchase her two pieces of fashionable Ribbon to 
wear on her head round a Cap — She is fond of plain colours, 
and wishes it rather broad. Consult the taste of some fashiona- 
ble acquaintance of yours. 

The Wesley Locusts have entered this province and are rav- 
aging the County of Annapolis. In particular Cozins, the 
Bennetts, Seabury, and many others have joined them. They 
have erected a handsome meeting house in the rear of Cozin's 
Lott facing the street wherein Worthy Lake lived. One of the 
Preachers, a little diminitive limping fellow, has so charmed 
Miss Henny Cozens (as she is called) that she has married him. 
I am told he and all his family before him were beggars in 
Shrewsbury, New Jersey. His name is Cooper — possibly Col. 
Lawrence may know him — I never heard him, some Com- 
mend, others speak lightly of his Abilities. I Should however 
suppose him clever from having preached himself into Cozen's 
good Graces and Fortune and into his Daughter — 

For the Honor of Massachusetts be it made known that his 
Majesty's Att y General at Halifax Mn a late affair of Honor 
has come off with flying colours, and that the Solicitor Gen- 
eral that worthy descendant of fair Hibernia 2 was obliged to 

1 Sampson Salter Blowers, born in Halifax. In 1795 he was made a 

Boston in March, 1742, graduated at Judge, and in 1801 Chief Justice of 

Harvard College, 1763, and died at Nova Scotia. 

Halifax, October 25, 1842, at the age 2 Eobert John Uniacke was Soli- 

of over 100 years. He was associated citor-General from 1785 to 1797. At 

with John Adams and Josiah Quincy the date of this letter, he was also 

in the defense of the British soldiers Speaker of the Assembly, an office 

tried in 1770 for their part in the he held from 1789 to 1793, and again 

Boston massacre. He was impris- from 1799 to 1805. He succeeded Mr. 

oned as a Tory during the Revolu- Blowers as Attorney-General, 
tion, but soon liberated and sent to 



36 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

make a humble apology to him. The dispute was about a 
Negro Man whom Uuiacke had dismissed and Blowers took 
into Service. On this occasion Uuiacke said some rude things 
— Blowers challenged — the Chief Justice interfered and 
bound them both over in £1500, notwithstanding which 
Blowers wrote Uniacke he was ready to break his Bonds and 
meet him, — that Satisfaction he would have sooner or Later. 
This determined Conduct so frightened Uniacke that he 
begged pardon. 

We are very gay here this Winter — Assemblies once a fort- 
night and a Weekly Club. Annapolis is still the seat of Har- 
mony and friendship, I wish I could add wealth. 

I have written this in a small hand to comprehend all I had 
to say on a sheet. Give my sincere love to your father, may 
you and he enjoy many years of uninterrupted health and 
happiness is the sincere wish of 

your very affectionate 
and faithful 

Tho Barclay. 

to brook watson & co. 

Annapolis, 13tli January, 1792. 
Gentlemen : 

In an accidental conversation I lately had with my Brother 
in Law Mr. Stephen De Lancey, I discovered that Col. Dundas 
and Jeremy Pemberton Esquires the Commissioners appointed 
to examine into the Losses &c &c of those Loyalists who were 
resident in this and the other Provinces, had after examining 
me and hearing Witnesses on my claims, struck out a part by 
mistake or misinformation to which I was most justly entitled 
and for a loss exactly similar to which they allowed Mr. De 
Lancey — The case is this — Mrs. Barclay (who was a daugh- 
ter of the late Mr. Peter De Lancey) and her brother Mr. 
Stephen De Lancey were with the other Children of Mr. Peter 
De Lancey possessed of an Estate at the Whitehall in the City 
of New- York consisting of Dwelling Houses Store Houses and 
Stables— In 1776 that part of New York was burnt and it was 



EARLIER YEARS 37 

generally believed by the Americans, the fire happening the 
very night or night after the Kings Troops took possession of 
that City x — I clearly proved Mrs. Barclay's title and the value 
of the Property and should as you will see from enclosed Let- 
ter have rec d a Compensation therefor, but for some misinfor- 
mation given the Commissioners, or their not properly under- 
standing the merits of the Claim — The expression used by the 
Commissioners in their Letter (written by a pro tempore Sec- 
retary of theirs) is " They find Major Barclay disposed of his 
Ground right after the division of the Property " — I have ever 
lamented in investigating the Claims of the Loyalists the Com- 
missioners had not devised a better mode to ascertain the jus- 
tice of each Loyalists Claim than what they adopted. It is 
true they first gave each of us a fair candid and impartial 
hearing, but from this alone I am convinced their Judgements 
were not made up, but that they from time to time procured 
private information and that ex parte — This must have been 
the case in the instance I now represent to you ; and I lament 
the Gentlemen had not when they rec d this information, com- 
plained to one of the Crown officers and had me indited for 
Perjury, for I should have been liable to the Pains thereof if 
found to have sworn to demands I had no claim to — The re- 
verse however would have been proved, I should have rec d my 
compensation, their informer would have been treated with 
proper contempt and perhaps such an instance would have 
been an end to all future private information — The least the 
Commissioners could have done on this occasion would have 
been to have given me notice and told me unless I disproved 
the information I should receive no compensation for that loss 
— I take the Liberty to request you will endeavor to have my 
claims reviewed by some mode or other as to this point — It is 

1 The fire broke out at one o'clock Lamb's Hist, of N. Y., Vol. II, p. 

on Saturday morning, September 21, 135, where the original authorities 

1776. It began near Whitehall Slip are fully referred to, and a map is 

and spread fast before a strong given showing the extent of the 

southerly wind up the westerly side burned district. Cadwallader Col- 

of the town as far as the College den, Mrs. Barclay's grandfather, 

grounds. An account is given in died the same day. 
3* 



38 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

a matter that may easily be seen from looking over my claims 
in the reports from Halifax there the whole will appear ; and I 
trust the Lords of the treasury will when once they find I have 
by mistake been deprived of a sum the Commissioners in- 
tended to report me ; generously order me payment — In 1776 
the property at White Hall I claimed for was burnt ; for you 
are to observe I only claimed for the buildings not the Ground 
— It was impossible to suppose I could conceive that could be 
burnt — Now admitting I had sold the Ground after the fire, 
does it follow from thence I was repaid for the Loss sustained 
in the buildings, or could the selling of the Ground oust my 
claim for compensation of the buildings — The fact however 
is otherwise. I never disposed of the ground until the last of 
the war. In 1780 or 1781 I do not recollect which Mr. John 
De Lancey another Brother of Mrs. Barclays asked me to sell 
him my Wife's share — I told him I did not know what it was 
worth, but that he might take the Possession and give me 
whatever he gave the other Brothers & Sisters — Nothing more 
ever passed than this and altho he might in 1783 at the peace 
have lent Mrs. Barclay some money on an expectation of a 
purchase of her share, it never was compleated until this last 
Autumn — I now send you only a copy of the Secretaries Let- 
ter in order that you may lay it before the Lords of the trea- 
sury and if the original is necessary and my own and Mr. John 
De Lanceys affidavit to prove when I disposed of the Ground 
and how many years after the Loss was incurred — Let me 
know and they shall be sent — I feel myself much hurt at this 
part of the Claim being rejected as it in some measure reflects 
on my veracity and Candor; which except in this instance 
has never been doubted — If it can be ascertained the Commis- 
sioners have been guilty of a palpable mistake, I trust the 
treasury will ever be ready to rectify it — 



EARLIER YEARS 39 



1 



FROM JOHN WATTS. 1 

New- York, 20 August, 1792. 



Dear Sir: 



I lately was favored with your Letter of the 2nd. July last 
and delayed answering it till I could inform you that the sale 
of your Jersey Laud, which was then pending, should he car- 
ried fully into execution, tho' I had taken for granted that Mr. 
Creighton to whom you had written in respect to that Busi- 
ness would have made you accpiaiuted from time to time of the 
State of it. This land has been sold for £110. The money 
rec'd by Mr. Creighton & paid by him to Childs, who has exe- 
cuted a Bond of Indemnity in the manner you desired. 

The Corps you are now raising will not I presume make it 
requisite for you to leave Home and in course you will derive 
every advantage without much inconvenience. 

The People in general of these States are much attached to 
the Cause of France, altho' the excesses committed there in the 
prosecution are much lamented. However our Government as 
well as the People in general are for a strict Neutrality consis- 
tent with our existing Treaties. We have for a fortnight past 
had a large french fleet in our Harbour, in which many of the 
unhappy people from the Cape have come Passengers who are 
in the most distressed Situation and must be provided for at 
the Expense of the Publick. The Crews of the fleet have con- 
ducted themselves in the most peaceable manner towards the 
Citizens. 2 

The Lots in this City have, as you mention, risen greatly in 
Value, much beyond what I had any expectation of, I own no 
property in the City except the House I live in. 3 House 
Rents & the expences of Living in this City have for some 

1 John Watts had, notwithstand- Congress. He died in 1830, aged 

ing his close connection with the eighty-seven. 

chief Loyalists, maintained a neutral 2 For an account of the arrival of the 

position during the Revolution. At French fleet bringing refugees from 

the date of this letter he was Speaker Cape Francois (Hayti) see McMas- 

of the New-York Assembly. From ter'sHist.of U.S.,Vol. II, pp. 123-125. 

1793 to 1795 he was a member of 3 No. 3 Broadway. 



40 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

time past been constantly on the Rise and it is unaccountable 
How People afford to live in the manner they do. However so 
it is, that we see no Diminution of the Style of Living and 
hear of no Failures. 

My family are all well, I have been (but not with my good 
will) in town the whole summer which hitherto has been un- 
commonly hot. As I am not in Business It would not only be 
Agreeable but an object of oeconomy to me (which you know is 
material in a large family) to reside in the Country, which my 
wife does, about G or 7 Months in the year. 

I have not heard from my Brother Stephen 1 for two years 
past, but frequently hear of him and that he is well. I am in 
the bad Habit of not writing any one, unless Business makes 
it requisite, in course our Correspondence is very much Inter- 
rupted. 

I am etc. 

John Watts. 



TO MR. FINDLAYSON. 

Annapolis 28 Aug- 1793 
Sir 

The Rev d D r Brown of Halifax has advised me to write 
you on the subject of procuring from Scotland a Gentleman 
as a private Tutor to my Children, and has been so good as to 
promise to send this under Cover to you stating the Conver- 
sation and describing what kind of Person I wish. — Con- 
vinced that Cultivation of the human mind, is one of the first 
Objects of your Wish, I trust you will not deem this trouble- 
some or impertinent, altho' it comes from a person who nei- 

1 Stephen Watts was Major in Sir or three days after the battle by 

John Johnson's Royal Greens, a de- some Indian scouts, and carried to 

taehment of which he commanded the British camp. He subsequently 

at the battle of Oriskany, where he went to England, where he married 

was desperately wounded and left a Miss Nugent, and where the rest 

for dead. He was found alive two of his life was spent. 



EARLIER YEARS 41 

tlier has or probably ever will have the pleasure of your 
Acquaintance. — 

In Nova Scotia we have two public Seminaries, one at Hali- 
fax the other at Windsor, both of which are tolerably well fitted 
with Professors and tutors. The Expense however of send 
ing a number of Children to either of those places, exceeds 
my limited Circumstances; and in this Village we have not 
even a decent School, where the younger Children can receive 
the principal of Education — I have 10 Children, six of whom 
are of Ages fit to receive Instruction, and the two eldest of 
them tolerably advanced in Lattin, Geography, Arithmetic 
&. &. and am auctions they should have their education 
compleated under my own Roof, as being less expensive and 
at the same time affording me a better opportunity of estab- 
lishing their morals and improving their manners — Dr. Brown 
thinks it very probable you may procure me a Gentleman 
agreeable to 1113' wishes. — The utmost sum I can go to will 
be thirty pounds Sterling per Annum with washing bord and 
lodging in my family — The English, Lattin and French 
Language if possible, I wish my Children to be well founded 
in, together with a good Mathematical, Geographical, Astro- 
nomical and Historical Education, If therefore you can pro- 
vide for me a person duly qualified to teach my Children as 
above mentioned ; and who is willing to come at the salary 
mentioned you will do me a favor. — The Gentleman must be at 
the expense of his own passage, but as it may not be convenient 
for him to advance the money I now enclose you a draft on my 
agent in London for £25 Sterling which you will have the 
goodness to pay him in advance if necessary — This however 
you may add by way of inducement that in case the Gentleman 
remains four years with me, I will repay him his passage money. 
— Dr. Brown thought it might be an additional inducement 
to promise my interest in any Church or Professorship Pro- 
motion — The Gentleman may at all times depend on my Lit- 
tle Interest and every exertion in my power in his favor. I 
should however be wanting in Candor if I did not at the same 
time observe, I at present saw very little Prospect of either in 
this Province ; — and to intreat him not to let any such prom- 



42 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

ises be the preponderating weight in his determination to 
come out. Ships belonging to the House of William Forsyth 
& Co of Halifax Merchants sail every Spring and Autumn for 
Halifax and New Brunswick from Glascow and Greenock, the 
Gentleman had best take passage in one of them being cheaper 
and more convenient than coming up to London for a con- 
veyance and crossing to St. Johns New Brunswic will be pref- 
erable to Halifax ; Annapolis being only twelve leagues water 
carriage from St. Johns and Halifax a distance of a near one 
hundred and forty Miles land Carriage and double that by 
water — I shall only add that your good Offices in procuring a 
Gentleman of Genius and Ability agreeable to the above 
description will greatly oblige 
Sir 

Your very obedient and 

most humble Servant 

Tho Barclay 



CHAPTER II 

THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 

Notwithstanding the definitive treaty of peace 
between the United States and Great Britain 
had declared that all past misunderstandings and dif- 
ferences were forgotten, and that the intercourse be- 
tween them was so established as to secure perpetual 
harmony and peace, scarcely ten years had elapsed be- 
fore the two countries were again almost at war. Per- 
haps the real cause of the bitterness of feeling lay 
rather in the tremendous possibilities suggested by the 
French Revolution than in the ostensible grounds of 
controversy ; and yet these were numerous and serious 
enough to furnish out a formidable quarrel. The Eng- 
lish complained that the debts due them had not been 
paid, and that confiscated estates had not been re- 
stored; the Americans complained of the carrying 
away of their negroes, of interference with their com- 
merce, of the impressment of their seamen, and of the 
failure to surrender Detroit, Buffalo, and Oswego and 
other western posts; while the parties differed as to 
the very starting-point for the boundary between their 
respective possessions. With what we must now re- 
gard as great moderation and good sense, the United 
States agreed to a treaty which gave them but a part of 
their demands, and left other questions to be settled 
when their increasing strength should compel a more 



44 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

attentive hearing. The general settlement of the ques- 
tion of neutral rights and the impressment of seamen 
was postponed. The disputes as to boundaries, British 
debts, and illegal captures were submitted to arbitra- 
tion. The western posts were given up. Temporary 
regulations for commercial intercourse were adopted. 

The treaty was concluded on November 19, 1794, and 
was entitled a " Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navi- 
gation " ; but it has been generally known as Jay's 
Treaty, from the name of the American negotiator. It 
met with extreme disfavor in the United States. Wash- 
ington hesitated before submitting it to the Senate ; the 
Senate ratified it only after long debate and with the 
suppression of one of its articles ; and it was not until 
October 28, 1795, that the ratifications were finally 
exchanged. 

The controversy as to boundaries, which was to be 
partly settled under this treaty, was destined to last for 
nearly a century, for it was not until 1873 that the line 
between the British possessions and the United States 
was at last adjusted in its full extent. Beginning at 
the eastern end, the line was marked out from point 
to point by a series of interesting compromises and 
arbitrations; and with the earlier stages of this long 
process of adjustment Thomas Barclay was intimately 
concerned. 

The only question with which Jay's Treaty dealt was 
the starting-point of the line on the Atlantic coast. 
The treaty of 1783 had attempted a precise definition of 
the boundary. It was to begin at " the north west an- 
gle of Nova Scotia, viz., that angle which is formed by 
a line drawn due North from the source of the St. Croix 
River to the Highlands"; and it was to run thence 
"along the Highlands which divide those rivers that 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 45 

empty themselves into the river St. Lawrence from 
those which fall into the Atlantic Ocean." The eastern 
boundary of the United States was to be a line " drawn 
along the middle of the river St. Croix, from its mouth 
in the bay of Fundy to its Source, and from its Source 
directly North to the aforesaid highlands." And the 
first point to be settled was : " what river was truly in- 
tended under the name of the river St. Croix ? " 

On the western shore of the bay of Fundy, west of 
the St. John's River, two considerable streams fall in 
from the north. The easternmost still bears the Indian 
name of Magaguadavic, and it was this which the 
American Government claimed as the true St. Croix. 
The westernmost, known in its various parts as the 
Schoodic and Chiputneticook, was the one on which 
Great Britain insisted; and the matter was further 
complicated by the fact that this river branches out 
into a tangle of smaller rivers and lakes, so that if this 
was indeed the St. Croix it was no easy matter to fix 
its source. The difference of opinion involved an ex- 
tensive territory. The mouths of the two rivers are 
some nine miles apart, while the northerly lines to be 
run, according to the extreme pretensions of the two 
parties, lay full fifty miles distant from each other. 
The territory involved in this dispute covered six or 
seven thousand square miles. 

By the fifth article of Jay's Treaty the question was 
referred to the decision of three Commissioners — one to 
be appointed by the King, one by the President, and 
one by agreement between the two first named ; and in 
case they were unable to agree the third Commissioner 
was to be selected by lot. The Commissioners were to 
make a written award, deciding which was the River St. 
Croix intended by the treaty of 1783 and describing it 



46 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

throughout, and particularly fixing the latitude and 
longitude of its mouth and of its source. The Commis- 
sioners were to meet at Halifax, and were empowered 
to appoint a secretary and employ such surveyors or 
other persons as they should judge necessary. And 
both the United States and Great Britain agreed " to 
consider such decision as final and conclusive, so as 
that the same shall never thereafter be called into 
question, or made the subject of dispute or difference 
between them." 

Under this article of the treaty, the King appointed 
Thomas Barclay; General Washington appointed David 
Howell ; * and the two agreed upon Egbert Benson 2 
as the third Commissioner. The Commission met 
for the first time at Halifax on August 22, 1796. A 
unanimous agreement was finally reached, and the 
award of the Commission was signed at Providence, 
R. I., on October 25, 1798. 

FROM LORD GRENVILLE. 

Downing Street, March, 179G. 
Sir 

Herewith you will receive, a Commission under the Great 
Seal appointing- you His Majesty's Commissioner for the pur- 

1 David Howell was born in New York, June 21, 1746, and was gradu- 
Jersey, January 1, 1747, and was ated from King's College in 1765. 
graduated at Princeton in 1766. He He was the first Attorney-General 
became Professor of Mathematics of New-York, member of Congress 
and Natural History at Brown Uni- from 1784 to 1788, and afterward 
versity in 1769, and subsequently Judge of the U. S. Circuit Court and 
studied law and lectured upon it. of the N. Y. Supreme Court. He 
He was a member of Congress from died in 1833. His father, as we have 
1782 to 1785, and Attorney-General seen, was a half brother of Thomas 
and Judge of the Supreme Court of Barclay's mother; so that he and 
Rhode Island. He died in 1826. Barclay were first cousins of the half 

2 Egbert Benson was born in New- blood. 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 47 

pose specified in the fifth article of the Treaty of Amity, Com- 
merce and Navigation concluded with the United States of 
America on the 19th of November 1794. I likewise transmit 
you His Majesty's Instructions for the regulation of your con- 
duct in the situation in which you are to be employed. 1 

I am, etc., 

Grenville. 

TO LORD grenville. 

New York, 2 30th May, 1796. 
My Lord 

I have the Honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Lord- 
ships Dispatch of the 6th of March last with His Majesty's 
Commission under the great seal appointing me His Majestys 
Commissioner for the purposes specified in the fifth article of 
the Treaty of Amity Commerce and Navigation concluded be- 
tween His Majesty and the united states of America on the 
19 th of Nov r . 1794 ; and the Royal Instructions under His Ma- 
jestys privy Seal for .my guidance and direction in the execu- 
tion of the said Commission. 

I intreat your Lordship to lay at His Majestys feet my most 
humble acknowledgements for this instance of his gracious 
Favor, and beg I may be permitted to assure your Lordship 
that I shall by a punctual and diligent attention to the duty 
committed to me endeavor to merit this mark of His Majestys 
Confidence. 

Private Business has led me to this City ; at which place I 
received your Lordships dispatch by the march pacquet on the 
10 th of this Month, and conceiving an interview with M r . 
Liston his Majestys Plenipotentiary residing in Philadelphia 
necessary previous to my departure for Halifax, I immediately 
took post for that purpose. M r Liston had nothing particular 

1 These instructions are purely the persons named in the act of at- 
formal ; they bear date March 5, tainder of 1779, and who had there- 
1796. by been banished from the State, 

2 By an act of the New- York Leg- were permitted to return and re- 
islature, Chap. 68, Laws of 1792, all side within it. 



IS CORRESPQNDENCH OF PHOMAS BARCLAY 

bo oommunioate: But M . Bond has furnished me with a Copy 
of a Brief or Case which he assures me is much relied on by 

the American Ministers as conclusive in Pavor of the United 

States in deoiding the question relative to the River St. Croix ; 
Copies o( which M\ Liston transmitted to your Lordship while 
I was in Philadelphia. It' M'. Bonds information is correct the 

possession Of this oase will be of material conscvuicuee, for al 
though it contains many Stubborn facts, (a1 least stated as 

suoh) still a knowledge o( the defence intended to be set up 

w ill enable me to provide applicable proof to rebut the (Maim. 

On a perusal of the paper alluded to, if anything occurs to 

your Lordship, which von may deem o( consequence I shall 
esteem it a. favor to be honored with your sentiments 
thereon. 

General Knox, the Commissioner originally appointed by 
the President o( the United States having declined acting, 

another has been named, whose absent had not arrived when 
I was in Philadelphia, 'The American Secretary o( State has 

been notified o\' my being Commissioned on the part of Great 

Britain and M'. Liston will forward me the earliest informa- 
tion o( the American Commissioners appointment ami ac- 
ceptance. 

I shall repair without loss of time to Halifax and there wait 
the arrival o( the American Commissioner, collecting in the 
mean time every document and information that may be use 
ful in deciding the question his Majesty has been pleased 
to commit to my Charge. 



FROM Mli. PICKERING TO MR. I [STON. 

Department of State, Mu\ 27th, L796. 
Sir, 

1 had the honour to suggest to you. in conversation, that it 
was desirable that Mr. Barclay and Mr. Howell should see 

each other before the departure of the former for Halifax. 
Mr. Howell's commission will be transmitted to him by to 
morrow's post ; and I entertain no doubt o( his accepting it. 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 49 

Although the Article of the Treaty relative to the River St. 
Croix (the object of their appointment) indicates that the first 
meeting to commence the execution of their Commissions 
should he at Halifax; yet this is not indispensable; and, as 
Mr. Barclay is at New York, a previous meeting between him 
& Mr. Howell will be easy, and certainly useful. Perhaps 
they may agree on the third Commissioner: or if not, they 
can chuse one as the Treaty directs. Should they at the pro- 
posed meeting hit on the third Commissioner, then the whole 
Commission may appoint a Secretary, and Surveyors, and de- 
termine on the other persons whom it will be necessary to 
employ. Even if the third Commissioner should not be thus 
chosen, it would seem expedient for Mr. Barclay and Mr. 
Howell to agree on a fit person for the Secretary ; but espe- 
cially, and what is of the most material consequence, on a man 
of Science to ascertain with precision the latitudes and longi- 
tudes of the mouth & the source of St. Croix ; and whom, 
with his astronomical apparatus, it may be most convenient 
to take from the United States. 

You will be so obliging as to intimate these ideas to Mr. 
Barclay, as I will to Mr. Howell. 

I have, etc., 

Timothy Pickering. 



TO MR. LISTON. 

New York, 7 th June 1796. 
Sir: 

I am honored with your dispatch of the 3 d Instant, inclos- 
ing a copy of a letter from the American Secretary of State, 
proposing an interview between M r Howell the American 
Commissioner and myself previous to my departure for 
Halifax. 

It is probable you will recollect when I had the pleasure of 
seeing } r ou in Philadelphia, I expressed my wishes to that 
effect and requested you to give me the earliest notice of the 
appointment that I might communicate to the American Com- 



50 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

missioner my being at present in this City, and agree on some 
place for a meeting before my return, conceiving it might ex- 
pedite the completion of the object committed to oar deter- 
mination and in the hope that I might have the pleasure of 
his Company to Halifax. I shall therefore the moment I am 
made acquainted by you of M' Howell's acceptation of the ap- 
pointment, write him respecting my return to Nova Scotia 
and proffer him an interview either here or at Rhode Island 
which ever to him may be most agreeable. 

Whatever my own sentiments may be respecting the con- 
struction of that part of the fifth Article of the treaty which 
directs Commissioners therein named to meet at Halifax ; I 
find myself so limited by the Instructions from his Majesty, 
that I cannot officially proceed on the Commission, before I 
meet the American Commissioner at the place agreed on in 
the fifth Article of the Treaty. Indeed it would be improper 
for many reasons. The interview therefore that I shall pro- 
pose to Mr. Howell, will be of a private nature ; in which we 
will freely communicate, and in all probability chalk the out- 
lines of our future proceedings, and come to some determina- 
tion respecting the nomination of a third Commissioner, Sec- 
retary, Surveyors &c. &c. 



TO MR. HAMMOND. 1 

Annapolis, Nova Scotia 12 July 1796. 

(Private.) 

Dear Sir 

I wrote you from Philadelphia on the 25th and from New 
York on the 30th of May acknowledging the receipt of your 
very friendly letter of the 6th of March and requesting your 
acceptance of my warmest acknowledgment for recommend- 
ing me to his Majesty and Lord Grenville for the appointment 

1 George Hammond — at this time secretary during the negotiations in 
Under-Secretary of State for For- Paris, and British Minister to the 
eign Affairs. He had been Hartley's U. S. from 1791 to 1795. 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 51 

wherewith through your friendship I have been honored. In 
diseharge of the trust reposed in me in addition to every other 
consideration, I shall endeavor to merit your approbation and 
to afford you the pleasing satisfaction that your good offices 
have not been improperly exerted in my favor. 

A Delay has been occasioned on the part of the Americans 
by General Knox who was originally named by the President 
as the Commissioner on the part of the united states declining 
to accept the office. I am told he assigned many forcible rea- 
sons, among which was his being interested in the question. 
In consequence of his declining to serve Mr. Howel of the 
State of Rhode Island was appointed, and it was not until the 
16th of June that 1 was informed through Mr. Liston of his 
acceptance. It was Mr. Listons wish as well as the American 
Secretary of State that Mr. Howell and myself should have an 
interview previous to my return to Nova Scotia. This I read- 
ily assented to, and accordingly met him at Boston <m the 27th 
of June. At that meeting several persons were named as 
a third Commissioner. Mr. Howell alleged ignorance of the 
Characters of the Gentlemen I proposed. Amongst those he 
named there were three either of whom I told him I would 
agree to nominate, Judge Benson of New York who I fancy 
you recollect when he was a member of Congress — a M r Mil- 
ledge of this province, and M 1 - Antil of Lower Canada. M 1 
Howell however declined the nomination, until he had con- 
sulted the American Ministers. He also informed me as his 
appointment was unexpected, he would not be prepared to 
meet me in Halifax before the 15 th of August. I really fear 
from what I discovered at the interview we shall be compelled 
to leave the appointment of a third Commissioner to the acci- 
dental determination of a. draft. We have therefore agreed to 
name three able and respectable Characters on each side out 
of which the opposing party respectively is to strike the names 
of two from each list and the two remaining names to be put 
into a box and one drawn out for the third Commissioner. I 
conceived this the least exceptionable mode in the event of our 
not mutually agreeing on a Commissioner. 

I am apt to think there will be a necessity of procuring some 



52 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

documents from England. I shall not however trouble his 
Majesty s Ministers until I find them absolutely necessary and 
that they cannot be procured on this side of the Atlantic. 
M r - Chipman the Solicitor General of the province of New 
Brunswick I am informed is appointed Agent on the part of 
Great Britain. 1 I have written him to come to me, and expect 
his arrival hourly. After we have consulted, we shall be able 
to know what proofs are wanting to substantiate our claims. 
Accept my best wishes for the health and happiness of your- 
self and M rs Hammond and family. 



FROM MR. BOND.- 

Philadelpkia 27 July, 1796. 

(Private and confidential.) 
My dear Sir, 

I repaired to New York, as I told You I should, previously 
to the Departure of the Packet, of this Month, and was not a 
little disappointed to find You had set out for Boston, a con- 
siderable Time sooner than You expected. 

It will occur to You, at once, upon examining the Documents 
produced, on the Part of the United States, that, in the Exe- 
cution of Your Duty in ascertaining the true River St. Croix, 
you will have very little Difficulty. It is only necessary to 
recur to the Extract I gave You, from the Act of Parliam* and 
to compare it with the Notes of our Historiographer, to be 
satisfied that there is not the least Ground to suppose, the 
Pretensions of the United States are founded in Justice. 

1 Ward Chipnian was a native of quaintance. At the peace lie re- 
Massachusetts, and graduated at moved to Nova Scotia. He subse- 
Harvard in 1770. He left Boston quently tilled important offices in 
with the King's troops in 1776, went New Brunswick, and became chief 
to England, and returned to Amer- justice and president of that colony, 
ica about 1778, when he served in He died at Frederieton in 1824. 
various military capacities, and 2 Phineas Bond, British Consul- 
doubtless formed Barclay's ac- General for the Southern States. 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 53 

I have convinced the Gentleman who furnished me with the 
material Paper, of which You are in Possession, that so far 
from impeaching our ancient Boundary, all that He has col- 
lected, serves manifestly to confirm it. 

It seems the Objection, first, originated in a Suggestion 
made by Gov r - Sullivan, 1 that the true River St. Croix was 
much to the Eastward of the River, which had been consid- 
ered as the Boundary of the United States. In order to es- 
tablish this Idea, the learned Gentleman, in a Book, He has 
lately published, has prepared a Map in which He has given a 
new & unheard of Name to the real River St. Croix, & has 
called a little Inlet, on the East Side of Passamaquaddi Bay, 
St. Croix River. 

The Fallacy of all this is, easily, detected, by examining all 
the ancient Maps, which designate the Situation of St. Croix 
River, to be on the West side of Passimaquaddi, (which Situ- 
ation the Act of Parliament, which established the Bounda- 
ries between the Provinces of Massachusetts Bay, and Nova 
Scotia, expressly recognizes,) whereas Gov r - S., to favor his 
Purpose, has placed the River St. Croix on the East side of 
that Bay. This, of itself, appears to me to be conclusive. I 
have not been able to get his Book here. I saw it for a Mo- 
ment, and think it is called the History of the Province of 
Maine. It was published last Year ; — I think You ought to 
have it, and shall direct the King's Consul, at Boston, to pro- 
cure it, and send it on to you, by the Gentleman, who conveys 
this Letter to Yon. 

I have some Reason to believe that the Government of the 
United States begins to be convinced there is no Meaning in 
the Claim it has instituted, & does not intend to urge it, very 
violently. 

Onr Historiographer, is a little anxious about his Notes ; — I 

1 James Sullivan, then Attorney- phetic, as he was elected to that 

General of Massachusetts. The book office in Massachusetts in 1807. As 

referred to is Sullivan's History of to Sullivan's share in this business, 

the District of Maine, published in see Chap, xiv of Amory's Life of 

1795. Bond's error in referring to Sullivan. 
Sullivan as "Governor" was pro- 

4A 



54 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

have assured him that they can, in no possible Event, ever be 
brought to Light ; and that they are only to serve, to furnish 
References to those Documents He has compiled, which so ir- 
refragably, decide the Justice of our Pretensions. 

I have a Chance of collecting some other Information, very 
shortly, of which I shall apprize You by the first safe Con- 
veyance. 

I shall be happy to hear you have received this Letter. 

Mr. Liston is not returned from the Southward, — I write 
in Haste. I am, &c. 

P. Bond. 

FROM MR. BOND. 

Philadelphia, 18 Aug'., 1796. 

{Private & Confidential.) 
My dear Sir: 

Inclosed I send You duplicate of my Letter of the 27th Ult: 
— tho' I, sincerely, hope the original may have, long since, 
reached You ; as, with it, you would probably have received 
Judge Sullivan's famous History of the District of Maine 
which I requested the King's Consul at Boston to forward to 
You, by the Gentleman to whom I committed the Care of that 
Letter. 

From the Suggestions of this Author, as I have told You, 
all this Difficulty respecting the true River St. Croix has 
arisen. In the Map He has prefixed to this Notable Work, 
He has, not only, changed the Position of the River — but it's 
name ; — giving to the true river St. Croix, situate on the West 
side of Passimaquaddy Bay, the Name of Schoodic River, and 
to a little Inlet, on the East side of the Bay, the Name of St. 
Croix River. 

As the Author has been nominated by this Government 
Agent of the United States in the pending Negotiation, to as- 
certain the true River St. Croix, He will, independently of inter- 
ested Motives, which may, perchance, have warped his geo- 
graphical Judgment, be now influenced by Pride, & a nice 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROLK 55 

Sense of literary Honor, in maintaining his visionary Posi- 
tions : Bnt there seems to be no Chance of his succeeding, 
since, exclusively of other Means of Refutation, with which 
Yon will be furnished, I take it for granted, an actual Survey 
of the spot, must fix the River we contend for, as the true 
River St. Croix, namely, that River, which empties itself on 
the West Side of Passimaquaddy Bay: — The original De- 
scription of the Island, & River St. Croix, seem to be so ac- 
curately defined, as to leave no Particle of Doubt upon the 
Subject. After various Delays & Disappointments, I am, at 
Length, in Train of obtaining, shortly, a very accurate Detail 
of every historical Fact, which can serve Us, upon this occa- 
sion ; which is also extended to a Refutation of all Judge Sul- 
livan's material Positions. 

The Purpose of my troubling You, now, is, to intimate to 
You, that unless You shall see Your Way, perfectly clear, in 
ascertaining the grand object, which so much affects the In- 
terests, as well as the Credit of His Majesty's Government, it 
will be expedient to suspend Conclusion upon the Point, until 
You shall be in Possession of such Documents, as will, speed- 
ily, be completed here : For this purpose, it will be advisable, 
previously to your leaving Halifax, (if that should happen this 
Autumn) in order to explore the geographical Situation of the 
two Rivers, to fix some mode by which a safe Correspondence 
can be maintained with You, from hence, which appears to me 
to be most practicable thro' the Medium of the King's Consul, 
at Boston, with whom You will be pleased to make the proper 
Arrangements, seasonably : — As far, however, as I can calcu- 
late, at present, You may count upon having the expected De- 
tail, forwarded to you, at Halifax, by the first Mail: — any 
other Mode of Conveyance might be hazardous. 

In conversing with the Gentleman, who prepared the mate- 
rial Paper I delivered to You, I soon found He had gone upon 
a mistaken Idea that we meant to carry the Western Boun- 
dary of Nova Scotia, as far as Keunibeck River, according to 
the former Pretensions and Claims of the French upon Aca- 
dia — who in Virtue of Sir W m Alexander's Grant of the Prov- 
ince of Nova Scotia, endeavor'd to engross not only the Prov- 



56 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

inee of Nova Scotia, but also that portion of the Plirnouth 
Grant, which was allotted to Him, as an Individual Member of 
the Company, which Portion it so happened, was bounded on 
the East, by the St. Croix River; — His observations, there- 
fore, tended to defeat this Westerly Extension of the Boun- 
dary of Nova Scotia by showing; that Portion of the Plirnouth 
Company Grant assigned to S r . W m Alexander, and bounded 
on the East by St. Croix River, was, as well by the Terms of 
the original Grant, as from prescriptive Recognition, within 
the Province of Massachusetts Bay. I am &c. 

P. Bond. 



FROM MR. BOND. 

Philadelphia 29 Aug* 1786. 

(Private and Confidential.) 
My dear Sir, 

I write to You by a Conveyance, upon which I place but lit- 
tle Reliance — & therefore I shall say but little. Since I wrote 
to You on the 18th curr* I have procured the material Paper, 
I contemplated, & in my Opinion it clearly establishes all we 
contend for ; so that if the Commissioner, on the Part of the 
United States should not accede to our Claim, in it's full Ex- 
tent, You will find ample Means to establish it : In that Case 
an actual Survey seems indispensable, which, however it may 
be attended with some Fatigue, will, in the result of it, most 
amply repay all our Labours. By the next mail You are to ex- 
pect all the Communications, You are to look for from hence. 
I am &c. P. Bond. 

TO LORD GRENVILLE. 

Halifax 30 Aug* 1796. 
My Lord — 

I have the honor to inform your Lordship that on Monday 
the 22nd Instant I met at this place David Howell Esq r the 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 57 

Commissioner appointed on the part of the united States of 
America to settle the boundary between the united States and 
His Majesty s Province of New Brunswic under the fifth arti- 
cle of the Treaty of Amity Commerce and Navigation between 
His Majesty and the united States of America and that upon 
perusing his Commission I find it differs from His Majestys 
Commission to me as your Lordship will see by a copy of it 
which I have the Honor to inclose. In the Commission to Mr. 
Howell the President of the united States expresses himself in 
these words " and thereupon with the other Commissioners 
duly sworn to proceed to decide the said question and exactly 
perform all the duties conjoined and necessary to be done to 
carry the said fifth Article into compleat execution " ; while 
in His Majestys commission to me it is declared, "We will 
give and cause to be given full force and effect to such final 
decision in the premisses as by our said Commissioner together 
with the other two Commissioners above mentioned or the 
Major part of the said three Commissioners shall duly be made 
according to the Provisions of the said Treaty." — Upon dis- 
covering this variance I communicated with Mr. Howell and 
requested he would report to the President of the united States 
the construction given to the fifth Article of the Treaty in my 
Commission from His Majesty and that his Commission might 
be so amended as to comport with mine. — He observed that 
his Commission was framed in the words of the fifth Article 
and that he did not feel himself at liberty to suggest an alter- 
ation to the President, neither did he think the president would 
make any ; he at the same time assured me he believed it the 
intention of the contracting powers that a declaration under 
the hands and Seals of a Majority of the Commissioners should 
be final and conclusive, that this was not his opinion alone, but 
of every man in office in the united States with whom he had 
conversed on the subject. 1 After this declaration and from a 

1 Notwithstanding Mr. Howell's 1796, Mr. Lee wrote that the decision 

emphatic assertion, it was a fact could not be made by a majority of 

that the Attorney-General of the the Commissioners. See Opinions of 

United States entertained the oppo- Atty.-Gens., Vol. I, p. 66. 
site opinion. Under date of July 23, 



58 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

conviction thai the very words of the Article strongly favor 
such a construction, I have determined to proceed on the sub- 
jed referred to our determination. If the intention of the 
contracting parties had been that the whole of the Commis- 
sioners should agree in order to make the declaration valid 
and binding, they would have named two or four Commission- 
ers, indeed the very naming of a third Commissioner imports 
thai the acts of two shall prevail where the three are not 
agreed. Should your Lordship differ in Sentiment with me 
my commission may be restricted, as Mr. Howell has agreed 
not to require a copy until the declaration is engrossed and 
ready to lie executed. He has written to the American Secre- 
tary of State for a certified Copy of His Commission which 
shall be forwarded to your Lordship the first Pacquet after I 
receive it. 

The American Commissioner and myself after several Com- 
munications have this day agreed in the choice of Egbert Ben- 
son of the City of New York Esq r as the third Commissioner 
— A Gentleman of Ability, Candor and Integrity and in whose 
impartiality I have the utmost confidence. His appointment 
will l>c forwarded to him by a, conveyance which sails to-mor- 
row. The Agents on the part of Great Britain and the united 
States that no time maybe lost will proceed immediately to 
Pasamaquaddy to effect accurate Surveys of the two Rivers in 
dispute the Scoodiac and the Magaguadavic. 

I have industriously exerted myself since I had the honor of 
receiving his Majestys Commission in procuring for the Con- 
sideration of Mr. Chipman his Majestys Agent such papers 
proofs and documents as could throw light upon the subject 
in controversy, but I find his zeal and industry in the fulfill- 
ment of the duties of his appointment, and his thorough 
knowledge of the subject will relieve me from every appre- 
hension thai anything will be omitted in procuring or arrang- 
ing the evidence in supporl of the Claim of the British Gov- 
ernment which can in any degree lend to elucidate their just- 
ness or force — i understand from him that he has expressed 
t<> Governor Carleton his wish to be furnished with Champ- 
laius Voyages, Purchases Pilgrim or Collection of Voyages, and 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 59 

L'Escarbot as in them or some of them is contained a particu- 
lar description of the Isle of St. Croix resorted to and named 
by the Sieur de Monts in 1604 from whence the river in ques- 
tion took its name and which island Mr. Chipman is confident 
from the description of it in some extracts from L'Escarbot 
with which it has fortunately been in my power to furnish 
him, he has discovered upon viewing the place to be actually 
situated at or near the mouth of the River which is claimed on 
the part of His Majesty to be the River St. Croix truly in- 
tended by the treaty of Peace. 1 He informs me he has also 
requested to be furnished with ( Copies of the Acts of Parlia- 
ment of Scotland the records of which are kept in the Castle 
of Edinburgh by which the two Provinces of Alexandria and 
Caledonia into which the Country of Nova Scotia granted to 
Sir William Alexander are established and confirmed, as he 
conceives it probable that in those Acts the River St. Croix may 
be ascertained by a more particular description than the Grant 
to Sir William Alexander contains — As a hearing of the 
Agents upon the question will be deferred until the Surveys 
are compleated of the Rivers claimed as the boundary on the 
part of the respective Governments there will be time without 
creating any additional delay, to cause him to be furnished 
with these Documents, and I have taken the liberty to men- 



1 "Quittant la riviere Sainet lean, ile de la retraite des Francois fat 

ils vindrent suivant la cote a vingt appelee Saincte-Croix, a vingt- 

lieues de la en vne grande riviere cinq lieues plus loin que le Port- 

(qui est proprerneut mer) ou ils se Royal. . . . Ladite ilea environ 

camperent en vne petite ile size au demie lieue de tour, et au bout du 

milieu de cette riviere, que ledit cote de la mer il y a vu tertre et 

sieur Champlein avoit este reconoi- comme vn ilot separe, on estoit 

tre. Et la voyant forte de nature et place le canon dudit sieur de Monts, 

de facile garde, joint que la saison et la aussi est la petite chappelle 

commencoit a se passer, et partant batie a la Sauvage. Au pied d'icelle 

falloit penser de se loger sans plus il y a des moules tant que c'est nier- 

courir, ils resolurent de s'y arreter. veilles, lesquelles oupeutamasserde 

. . . Etd'autant qu'a deux lieues. basse mer, mais elles sont petites." 
au dessus il y a des ruisseaux qui Lescarbot, Histoire de la Novvelle 

viennent comme en Croix se dechar- France, Liv. IV, Chaps, iii and v. 
ger dans ce large bras de mer, cette 



60 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

Hun it for your Lordships Consideration lest Governor Carle- 
tons letter should not ho forwarded in season to go by this 
Conveyance. 

FROM MR. BOND. 

Philadelphia 6 Sept'. 1796. 

(Private & Confidential.) 
My dear Sir, 

Inclosed 1 beg leave to forward to You, Duplicate of my 
Let t er of the 29th lilt ; sent by a Cartel Ship, & written at the 
Moment of her Departure. Having now a much safer Con- 
veyance by the Packet, I can with more Propriety, enlarge 
upon the Nature of the other material Paper I have procured, 
of which .Mr. Liston has been in Possession some days. It is 
rather a tedious Compilation, but it, undoubtedly, discovers a 
very extensive Knowledge of Historical Facts, applied to the 
Subject, confirming, by a vast variety of Documents & Obser- 
vations, the Location of the River St. Croix — and clearly re- 
futing all that has been said, upon the Point, by a certain Au- 
thor, who is raised to the High Station of Agent for the United 
States, in the pending Negotiation. 

Judging from the vague & fallacious Positions which this 
Ant hoi-, under the Effect of rooted Prejudice, or of Interest, 
has thought fit to advance, we have little to expect from the 
Candor of the Man. in executing the Duty assigned to Him. 
It is not perhaps too much to impute the Dispute as to the 
true River St. Croix, to the Author of the History of the Dis- 
trict of Maine, encouraged by Persons, who have sinister 
views to gratify, by extending the Eastern Boundary of the 
United States beyond the river St. Croix, which Great Britain 
has uniformly considered, as the Western Boundary of the 
Province of Nova Scotia; and whose Features are so well des- 
ignated in aneieiit History, (without resorting to the Acquies- 
cence of the Inhabitants of the Vicinity,) as not to admit of a 
Doubt on this Point, at this late Day. 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 61 

My best wishes always attend You — may Success and Rep- 
utation result from Your present Efforts 

I am &c. P. Bond. 



TO MR. TURNER. 1 

Annapolis 18th October 179G. 

My dear Sir — 

An application having- been made to me by Mr Schuyler 
Livingston for my assent to his being married to my daugh- 
ter, who had for several years resided with her Aunt at New 
York for the purpose of completing her education — I deter- 
mined notwithstanding my friends had assured me the con- 
nection was advantageous and every way agreeable, to go and 
judge for myself, previous to giving my consent. 2 

As soon therefore as the Governor had adjourned the house 
of Assembly (about the middle of April last) I embarked for 
the States, on board the Earl of Moira, with which Sir John 3 
had politely accommodated me and arriving at Boston in four 
days, went from thence to New York by land. — Having on 
particular enquiry ascertained the connection requested to be 
every way eligible, I consented to the Union, and on the 17th 
of June in order that I might be present, the marriage of my 
daughter and M r Livingston was solemnized at her Aunts 
Seat about 16 Miles from New York — Ten days after this I 
set out on my return for Nova Scotia and got home about the 
5 of July. — As soon as Mess 1 " 8 Fouman and Grassie heard of 
my arrival they forwarded me your favor of the 21 of March 
last, inclosed with a pacquet from M r Watson & another from 
the house — My time has been ever since so totally oecu- 

1 John Turner was a partner in Schuyler Livingston's mother was 

the house of Brook Watson & Co. Cornelia Schuyler. The wedding 

2 Schuyler Livingston was born took place at the bouse of Mrs. Cox, 

September 24, 1772. He was the who was Anne De Lancey, Mrs. 

son of Walter Livingston, who was Barclay's sister, 

the son of Robert Livingston, 3 Sir John Wentworth. Governor 

the third proprietor of the manor, of Nova Scotia. 



62 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

pied in and about the execution of the Commission wherewith 
His Majesty has been pleased to Honor me, that I have not 
really had a leisure moment to attend to my private concerns. 
— I am now but just returned from S l Andrews Passama- 
quady where the Commissioners have held their first meeting 
on the question referred to them, it appeared the most proper 
place, being- part of the territory in dispute and contiguous to 
the two rivers respectively contended for as the true S* 
Croix 

The judicial capacity in which I am to act renders it im- 
proper for me to discuss the subject, or express my Senti- 
ments in any manner relating to the dispute, except in the 
presence of my brother Commissioners and officially — Indeed 
if these Objections were removed, the length of the case in 
order to give you a just idea of the controversy would too far 
exceed the limits of a letter to admit of it — After a Weeks 
communication at Halifax in August last, the American Com- 
missioner and myself agreed in the Choice of Egbert Benson 
of the City of New York Esq r as the third Commissioner — A 
Gentleman of undoubted Ability and Integrity, and who from 
being a near relation was brought up in my fathers family, — 
I found it impracticable for M r Howell the American Com r and 
myself ever to agree on any other person, and that unless I 
joined in the appointment of Judge Benson, we must proceed 
to the unpleasant alternative of balloting for the third Com- 
missioner — To this I am extremely averse, from a conviction 
that by this measure the question would be decided rather by 
lott, than on its merits — I was convinced of the Justice of His 
Majestys ('hums, and the indisputable authorities that could 
be adduced to support it — To leave it therefore to a ballot, 
would be putting what I looked on as a certainty in hazard, 
a game I by no means conceived myself authorized to play. — 
It is true the American Commissioner gave me the names 
of two or three Gentlemen in England, one of whom he was 
willing should he opposed to M r Benson, hut, these Gentlemen, 
I learned were warm minority men, and 1 did not conceive it 
probable they would leave their pursuits and cross the Atlan- 
tic, on such a question and under our Domination. — Thus cir- 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 63 

cumstanced I judged it most for His Majesty s interest to give 
up the only possible objection to M r Benson, that of his being 
an American, under the hope of having a cool, sensible, and 
dispassionate third Commissioner — His future conduct I trust 
will prove the propriety of my determination — 

To say I am much obliged to you for your exertions in my 
favor respecting the application for a pension, would too 
faintly express my feelings — Permit me therefore to offer 
you my most grateful thanks and to assure you the impres- 
sions your kind interference has made will never be effaced 
from my recollection — M r Hammonds observations were so 
just as to carry conviction with them, and I feel equally 
obliged to him for the remark and you for adopting it — For 
the present therefore we will drop the pursuit, and wait an 
event more favorable — 

I am happy I can assure you that before the first day of 
January next the Province of Nova Scotia will be totally dis- 
incumbered of Debt — It was a load that lay heavy on my 
mind, from the first day I became a member of the house 
of Assembly ; and my principal exertions have bent to free 
the Province from such chains. You may rest satisfied that 
the same principles will induce me to oppose every measure 
tending to incur similar embarrassments — 



TO MR. BOND. 

Annapolis 24 th Oct r 1796. 

(Private c& Confidential.) 
My dear Sir 

The paper you allude to in your dispatch of the 7 th of Sep r . 
came safe to hand, and your directions respecting it have 
been obeyed — Accept my sincere thanks for your industry 
and zeal in furnishing me with what you can collect and con- 
ceive of consequence to be communicated — And permit me to 
intreat a continuance of your good offices — I hope you and 
Mr Liston approve of the nomination of Judge Benson as the 



(il CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

third Commissioner, who I know bo be a man of Candor, [nteg 
rity iiikI A.bilities and with whom I believe from his intimacy 
with Mr. Hammond you arc acquainted. 

I cannot conclude without cautioning yon against — . 
Be who betrays faith reposed in him even bya villain, is not 
to be trusted by an bonest man. Mis Character at this day is 
the same my worthy father gave me of him upwards of 30 
years since. That he was a man of duplicity and not to 

be trusted. 1 



TO LORD GRENVILLE. 

Annapolis 24 tb Oct 1 . L796. 
My Lord 

In my dispatch No. 3 dated Halifax the 30th of August last 
past, a duplicate whereof is enclosed, I informed your Lord- 
ship thai the American Commissioner and myself had agreed 
in the choice of the third Commissioner and that a vessel was 
sent to carry him his appointment. The American Commis- 
sioner and myself being of opinion that, the meeting of the 
Commissioners at St. Andrews in the Oomity of Charlotte 
Passaniaqnady (a part of the lands in dispute) would facili- 
tate the business, and prevent the Agents removing from a 
place where their presence was necessary, we accordingly ad- 
journed to St. Andrews and not died Mr. Benson the third 
Commissioner to meet us at that place on the 3rd of October. 
— On the 4th of October the three Commissioners having met 
at that place were sworn, agreeably to the 5 article of the 
treaty by Roberi Pagan Esq 1 His Majestys first Justice of the 
Court of Common Pleas for that County, after which the 
Board of Commissioners appointed Edward Winslow of Fred- 
erieton in the Province of New Brunswic Esq 1 their Secre 

i The person here alluded fco New-Yorker, ami musl have boon 

Beems to have been Mr. Bond's Ins- employed in the Stale Department ; 

toriographer, who furnished a copy but itdoesnol seem possible now to 

of the American ease and other in- establish bis identity, 
formation, lie was presumably a 



THE TRUE RIVER SI 

taryandr< f the respective Agents coj 

which I have the ■ to your Lordship 

seed up I 
by the Ag • it the 

Wind foiling mpelled to ref rn to 8 

. connrmi 
under itual a^.- ad taking the 

futur< a nnder our control i 

and gov 
d their | and that of the ehainmen and 

laborer- nnder them &'• &c. ' • 

;avje claimed by . 

1 ed in the and the Island " 

d had been named by the - ■ : / U- rie 

8t. Croix. D e 7th St. ( 

His Biajesl . . 
nt and as much 
said hi 

diver 
... I 

iea in L( - ined nnder oath ii 

':.- . - the part of the 

_0 - 

r pubHe ■ 

\ 

I 
Brooks and 

I 

1 is J 

- 

..- l'al- 
i 



66 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

selves to view in proceeding up the bay to either of the rivers 
in question, representing their Shapes and appearances re- 
spectively as they make or appear in proceeding to and up 
each of the Rivers in question. 

Having examined the Surveyors as to the probable period 
when their surveys would be completed and finding they could 
not be effected until late the next Autumn and the Agents 
having stated by a joint memorial that it would be out of their 
power to deliver in the Arguments on which their claims were 
founded until they were possessed of these Surveys, the board 
adjourned to the second Tuesday in August next, then to 
meet at Boston in the State of Massachusetts for the purpose 
of examining witnesses and to adjourn from thence to such 
place as his Majesty's agent should think necessary for exam- 
ining any other witnesses he might wish to produce. The 
weather from the 20th of September to the 8th of October was 
so unfavorable as to prevent the Gentlemen employed from 
ascertaining the longitude of the mouth of either of the Rivers 
and the Season being far advanced we gave up the pursuit 
until next Spring. The Surveyors will probably continue 
at Work to the 10th of November, at all Events they will 
remain in the field until driven in by Snow and extreme cold. 

Private. I take the liberty of suggesting to your Lordship 
a circumstance which probably will be laid before you by His 
Majestys Agent through Governor Carleton, but as an acci- 
dent may happen to his dispatches and no time ought to be 
lost, 1 presume to suggest to your Lordship, what certainly 
with more propriety would come from him. The Agent of 
the united States has related to His Majestys Agent that the 
Plenipotentiaries who concluded and signed the definitive 
treaty of Peace between His Majesty and the United States of 
America at Paris in the year 178.'}, had in contemplation and 
believed that the River called the River St. Croix in the treaty 
was the first River to the Westward of the River St. Johns in 
New Brunswic, that they had Mitchels map before them at 
that time, which lays down the eastermost river in the Bay of 
Passamaquady as the River St. Croix, and that Mr. Jay and 
.Mr. Adams the surviving American Plenipotentiaries and Mr. 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 67 

Hartley the British Plenipotentiary, together with Lord St. 
Helens 1 and a Mr. Whitford 2 who were then present will at- 
test to the above representation, and aver that the River next 
to the River St. John in New Brnnswic was the one by them 
intended as the point from whence the dividing boundary be- 
tween Great Britain and the united States should commence, 
and that he should next August examine Mr. Jay and Adams 
on the subject. What weight such testimony will have with the 
Commissioners is not for me to suggest. I have given your 
Lordship the above information, that you may if you conceive 
it necessary examine Mr. Hartley, Lord St. Helens and Mr. 
Whitford or any other persons who were present at the forming 
and executing of the treaty, and advise His Majesty s Agent 
what they will declare under oath respecting the same — Also 
whether Mitchels map was or was not the chart by which they 
governed themselves — The American Agent further states, 
that the Source of which river shall be decided to be the River 
St. Croix truly intended, cannot be extended beyond the flow- 
ing of the tide, and that he shall establish this position by the 
decision of the King and Council, on the source of the Merri- 
mac river in setting the boundary line many years since 
between the Provinces of Massachusetts Bay and New Hamp- 
shire, and a similar determination respecting the source of 
the Piscataqua river. — The absurdity of the position is too 
gross to admit of a moments hesitation — It may not however 
be improper to possess His Majesty s Agent with authenticated 
copies of all papers on file, & the opinion of the King and 
Council on the question of the last above mentioned rivers. 

Although Mr. Chipmans abilities are unquestionable and his 
application intense, still he wages a very unequal War with 
the American Agent, who has two of the Council, two of the 
Senate and one of the most eminent of the Law Counsel in the 
State of Massachusetts assigned to assist him in collecting 
documents and evidence and preparing a case and arguments 
on this important question ; on which a territory of not less 

1 Alleyne Fitzherbert, raised to 2 Caleb Whitefoord, Secretary to 
the Irish peerage as Lord St. Helens the British Commissioners who nego- 
in 1791. tiatedthepreliminarytreatyofpeaee. 



68 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

than 6 or 7,000 Square miles depends, part of which is invalu- 
able to His Majesty for the masts and yards it will furnish 
for the Navy. — Under these circumstances I am extremely 
anxious, and have therefore been the more readily induced to 
communicate the above information to your Lordship, that 
His Majesty's Agent may in time be informed of the facts and 
furnished with every necessary map and paper that may elu- 
cidate the question, or enable him to oppose and confute the 
arguments and suggestion of the opposing party — 



FROM MR. CHIPMAN. 

St. John, 9th Nov' 1796. 
My dear Sir, 

I feel myself under peculiar obligations to you for the very 
interesting and friendly communications in your letter of the 
3 d instant. I perfectly agree with you that the mode you have 
adopted with regard to my concerns, bids much fairer for suc- 
cess than any other, and whatever the event may be, I shall 
ever very gratefully recollect your kind interference upon this 
occasion. I am rejoiced that you have met with Popple's 
Map, as I believe from the description I have of it, it will be of 
great use. — There is another point which I am endeavoring to 
ascertain, which if it turns out as I have reason to believe it 
will, must be decisive in our favor. — The line from the Source 
of the St. Croix you will recollect, is by the Treaty of Peace to 
run "due North to the Highlands which divide those Rivers 
which fall into the Atlantic Ocean from those which fall into 
the River si. Lawrence." Now by an inspection of Capt. 
Sproules Map it appears to me, that a line drawn due North 
from the source even of the Cheputnatieook will strike the 
Uivt-r lostigouche which runs into the Bay of Chaleurs, and 
of course falls into the <lnl/>Jt of Saint Lawrence; such a line 
therefore will not answer the description in the Treaty, much 
less will a line drawn from the Source of the Magaguadavic or 
any other source eastward of the Source of the Cheputnati- 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 69 

cook, — but a line drawn due north from the Source of the 
Scoodiac will run to the westward of the sources of all the 
Rivers that fall into the Gulph of St. Lawrence, and will of 
course extend to the Highlands mentioned. — The idea was 
first hinted to me by Mr. Owen. I have communicated it to 
Governor Carleton, and requested that he will have the line 
run this winter due North from the source of the Cheputnati- 
cook to see where it will strike and that we may have evidence 
of the fact if it proves to be in our favor : — and if it should not, 
I think such a line must be run hereafter from the Source of the 
Magaguadavic, as I am satisfied that it will upon this princi- 
ple, clearly show that this cannot be the river. Let me know 
your opinion of this hint. I think we should at present keep 
it secret, I have intimated as much to the Governor. 

I thank you for your attention respecting the Cyder. Make 
my best compliments to Mrs. Barclay and affectionate regards 
to your little Flock, and believe me, &c. 

Ward Chipman. 



TO MR. HAMMOND. 

Annapolis, 20th Nov., 1796. 
My Dear Sir: 

The inclosed is a duplicate of what I wrote you in Oct. last. 
Two things have since occurred which I think of moment to 
communicate ; the first of which I intreat your attention and 
that by the earliest conveyance you will have the goodness to 
inform me what Governor Franklin recollects on the subject. 
Cap'. Moody the well known secret Service man under Sir 
Henry Clinton during the American War, tells me he was in 
London when Mr. Hartley returned from Paris after executing 
the definitive treaty of Peace in 1783. That he called on Gov- 
ernor Franklin to pay him a visit, who informed him that Mr. 
Hartley had just left the room, with whom he had had a long 
conversation respecting the territory ceded the united States. 
That he (the Governor) had asked Mr. Hartley why the Pleni- 
potentiaries had not made the river Penobscot the beginning 

6A 



70 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

boundary between Great Britain and the United States. To 
which he answered, that Doctor Franklin had so clearly dem- 
onstrated thai the River St. Croix was a preferable boundary 
being the dividing limit formerly existing between Nova 
Scotia and Massachusetts, that the Plenipotentiaries acceded 
thereto. To this the Governor replied that the loss of the in- 
termediate Country was of consequence to Great Britain, and 
thai he was afraid his father the Doctor had been too cunning 
tor Mr. Hartley. Captain Moody is certain Governor Frank- 
lin will recollect this conversation, as he appeared much inter- 
ested and told him, he and Mr. Hartley had conversed near an 
hour before his arrival. As Doctor Franklin is dead, it may 
l»e of moment to refresh Mr. Hartleys memory by what the 
( rOVemOr recollects. 

By the treaty of peace the line from the source of the St. 
Croix is to run due north to the Highlands which divide those 
rivers which fall into the Atlantic Ocean from them which fall 
into the River St. Lawrence. Mr. Chipman His Majestys 
Agent has hinted to me, and from examination I am apt to be- 
lieve it will prove so, that a line drawn due North from the 
Source even of the Chiputuatcook, (the North branch of the 
Scoodiac) will strike the River Restigouche which empties into 
the Bay of Chaleurs and of course falls, into the Gulph of St. 
Lawrence; such a line therefore will not answer the descrip- 
tion in the treaty, much less will a line drawn from the Source 
of the Magaguadavic or any other source eastward of the Source 
• 'f the ( Ihiputnatcook. But a line drawn due North from the 
Source of the Scoodiac will run to the westward of the Source 
of all the Rivers that fall into tin (litl)>li of St. Lawrenci and 
will of course extend to the Highlands mentioned — I shall 
unite with Mr. Chipman in an application to Governor Carl 
ton of New Brunswic to have a line run this Winter due 
North from the Source of the Chiputuatcook to see where it 
may strike, and that we may have evidence of the fact if it 
proves in our favor. Should it not, then to run the north line 
from the Magaguadavic. If it turns out as I expect, our cause 
will he essentially strengthened, indeed the question will be 
at an end. The resull you shall be informed of by the first 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 71 

conveyance after it is ascertained. I have taken the liberty to 
hint to Lord Grenville the propriety of furnishing Mr. Chip- 
man with Champlain, L'Escarbot & Purchase r with all authen- 
tic maps and a copy of the acts of Parliament of Scotland 
which are kept in the Castle of Edinburg by which the two 
provinces of Alexandria and Caledonia into which the Country 
of Nova Scotia granted to Sir Will 1 ". Alexander are estab- 
lished and confirmed, as they are material and as he is want 
of them. 



FROM MR. BOND. 

Philadelphia 29 Nov r 1796. 

(Private.) 
My dear Sir 

I am now to acknowledge the Receipt of Your very inter- 
esting Letter, with the Inclosures, which accompanied it, 
dated at Annapolis Royal on the 23rd Ult : for which I thank 
You exceedingly. 

It appears to me that You have analysed the Business, to 
which Your Commission relates, with all the Precision which 
was to be expected from Your Ability & Zeal: — there seems 
little, to apprehend. 

For the present, I have only to remark to You, that I have 
from long Experience, dearly bought — formed, precisely, the 
same Opinion of the Man, which You entertain of the Person 
from whom many copious Details, relative to the Subject in 
Dispute, have been obtained. In the present Instance, how- 
ever, let me do Him the Justice to observe, that in the Com- 
munications He made to me He did not conceive He betrayed 
any Confidence, which had been placed in Him : on the con- 

1 The books referred to are : "Voy- toire de la Novvelle France. Par 

ages et Deseovvertes faites en la Marc Lescarbot." Published in 

Novvelle France. Par le Sieur de three editions, 1609 to 1618. " Pur- 

Champlain, Cappitaine ordinaire chas his Pilgrims," the well-known 

pour le Roy en la Mer du Ponant." collection of travels by Samuel Pur- 

(1619.) This book contains a map chas, an English divine; published 

of the Island of St. Croix. "His- in 1613. 



72 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

trary, He professed that Truth, alone, was the Object of his 
Investigation, and if that End were eventually realized, it was 
of little Consequence to Him, what the Issue of the Examina- 
tion, to either Party, might be. 

Knowing Him as well as I did, there was little Danger 
that our Cause should suffer by a Surcharge of Confidence. 

I am &c. P. Bond. 



FROM LORD GRENVILLE. 

Downing Street, Dec' 9'\ 1796. 
Sir 

Your several dispatches to No. 3 inclusive have been re- 
ceived and laid before the King; and I have the satisfaction 
of informing you that His Majesty has been graciously pleased 
to approve of your conduct in having proceeded to execute 
the trust committed to you, notwithstanding the variation 
which appears to subsist between your commission and that 
which has been given to Mr. Howell by the President of the 
United States. That variation is indeed extremely unimpor- 
tant in itself, and it is still more so when it is considered that 
the general sense of the two contracting parties upon the sub- 
ject is so clearly to be ascertained by a reference to the two 
succeeding articles of the treaty which relate to the appoint- 
ment of Commissioners for other purposes and to the mode 
which is prescribed for deciding the questions submitted to 
them. In order however to remove all doubts upon this 
point, Mr. Liston is instructed to state the variations betw< en 
Mr. Howell's Commission and yours to the American Minis- 
ters, and to propose to them the interchange of declarations, 
purporting thai His Majesty and the United States will con- 
sider as final & conclusive the decisions of the three Com- 
missioners or of a majority of them, as to the river, which 
was the River St. Croix intended by the definitive treaty of 
Peace between His Majesty and the United States. It must 
however be observed that in order to render the proceedings 
under this Commission comformable to the principle estab- 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 73 

lished for the others, no such decision nor indeed any other 
proceeding can take place but in the presence of the three 
Commissioners. 

Although I understand that the books and papers specified 
in the concluding part of your dispatch No. 3 have been 
already transmitted from the Duke of Portland's Office to Mr. 
Chipman His Majesty's Agent, I nevertheless, in order to 
guard against the effects of any accidents happening to the 
Packet by which the other copies were sent, enclose to you 
those extracts of the Acts of Parliament of Scotland which 
you consider as likely to be of importance in the investigation 
of the question which you are appointed to decide. 

I am &c. Grenville. 



TO lord grenville. 

Annapolis, 8th Sept., 1797. 

My Lord 

I have the Honor to acquaint your Lordship that the Com- 
missioners for setting the disputed Boundary of the River St. 
Croix met early in August at Boston to which place they had 
adjourned. Judge Benson's ill health prevented his travelling 
with expidition from New York to Boston and occasioned 
a delay in the meeting of the Board of seven days. 

In my dispatch No. 4 I suggested to your Lordship, that the 
principal inducement for the Adjournment to Boston was 
founded on the representation of the American Agent that he 
had a number of witnesses to examine amongst whom were 
Mr. Adams the now President of the United States and Mr. 
Jay the present Governor of New York, both of whom w r ere 
Plenipotentaries for effecting the definitive treaty of peace 
between Great Britain and the United States of America at 
Paris in 1783, and a conviction on the part of the Commis- 
sioners that it would save time and expense to meet the wit- 
nesses at that place. On perusing the Affidavits of the major 
Part of the witnesses his Majestys Agent agreed to their be- 
ing filed de bene esse conceiving they can take little or nothing 



74 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

material to the present Question. Your Lordship will recol- 
lect my having hinted that the American Agent had said he 
should be able to prove by Mr. Jay Mr. Adams & Lord St. 
Helens that at the execution of the treaty of Peace in 1783 the 
Plenipotentiaries intended by the River St. Croix (the begin- 
ning point of delineation of the Lines which were thereafter 
to divide the United States from His Majestys Possessions in 
America) the first River to the Westward of the River St. 
Johns, and of course that the first River to the Westward of 
St. Johns was the river truly intended in the treaty. 

It is impossible for me to say whether such testimony would 
have been received by the Commissioners had it been offered. 
I am however happy to add the Case has not occurred and 
consequently no question on that point has been agitated. 
Mr. Jay on being- requested by the American Agent to attend 
at Boston for the purpose of giving testimony wrote the 
Agent a letter stating that he would not depose any thing 
material to the present question. That all that he knew was 
that Mitchels map was the only one the Plenipotentiaries had 
before them or used in setting the boundaries and that the 
river described on that map as the river St. Croix, having 
been Taken for granted as correctly laid down by the Geogra- 
pher it was named as the commencing boundary. That as to 
any error in the Map, or there being several rivers of the 
name of St. Croix, contiguous to each other; it never was 
suggested, and of course no provision made in such case by 
the Plenipotentiaries. That this was all he could possibly 
depose, yet if the American Agent wished his attendance, on 
notice he would immediately set out for Boston. 

Mi-. Adams* deposition was taken before the Commissioners, 
it amounts to little more than Mr. Jays statement, and I think 
1 may very safely say that it makes me more in favor of the 
British than the American claims. 

He swears that on his arrival from Amsterdam at Paris, he 
found the other Plenipotentiaries had already held several 
communications on the subjed of the Boundaries. That on 
ih'- part of Great Britain the river Kennebec and afterwards 
Penobscol had been urged as proper bounds, while the Ameri- 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 75 

can Plenipotentiaries Mr. Jay and Mr. Franklin contended for 
the River St. John. That he candidly told both parties he 
differed with them ; and his brethren the American Plenipo- 
tentiaries, that they pressed as much too far to the North 
East, as the British were short of the real commencing point 
of division. That the original North East boundary of Mas- 
sachusetts in his opinion was the line which ought to be 
adopted, and that it stood limited by the River St. Croix. 
That having Mitchels Map before them, he then traced out 
the boundaries on the same, and he thinks marked them with 
a period. In every other particular his testimony agreed with 
Mr. Jays information. 1 

The Surveyors are busily employed on the respective rivers. 
Those on the Magaguadavic will compleat their surveys this 
fall, but whether the Survey of the St. Croix will be effected 
is a great Doutt. Artists are also engaged in taking the 
Latitude and Longitude at the mouths of the two Rivers. 
The instant the Surveys are finished a general map is to be 
made of all Rivers and Bay of Passamaquady, by Mr. Sproule 
the Surveyor General of New Brunswic, copies of which are 
to be delivered the respective agents to enable them to perfect 
their arguments and replies. The Commissioners have ad- 
journed to the first Monday in June next, then to meet at 
Rhode Island, for the purpose of deciding the Question, at 
which period they trust the general Map will be compleated 
and the Agents ready to deliver their respective replies. 

His Grace the Duke of Portland having forwarded to Mr. 
Chipmau His Majestys Agent Extracts from Champlaiu and 
Copies of his Maps, particularly of the River St. Croix and 
the Island on which the French built and wintered in 1604 ; 
and that map having represented the situation and extent of 
the Buildings on the Island ; Mr. Chipman immediately sent 
to a Gentleman residing near that place a copy of the map, 
and requested him to dig agreeably to the positions laid down. 
On removing the young growth of Wood, which covered the 

1 The statements of Adams and Great Britain to the King of the 
Jay are printed in full as Appendix Netherlands in 1824. 
4 to the statement presented by 



76 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

face of thai pari of the Island, and digging a very little way 
under the surface, the foundations of the french Buildings 
were found in an almosl perfect state also the Brick of which 
the oven was made. An old metal Spoon, Iron spikes nearly 
destroyed by rust, peices of earthen and Iron pots, and char- 
coal in an apparently perfect state, but which on being ex- 
posed to the Air slaked and crumbled into dust. This discov- 
ery identifies the Island, and River, named St. Croix by the 
French. I take the liberty to remark to your Lordship that 
as the (pies! ion now stands, and I know of no other testi- 
mony proposed to be adduced, there can be no doubt of a de- 
cision favorable to His Majestys claims. One thing however 
is absolutely accessary; to wit that the Agent Mr. Chip- 
man is possessed of that edition of Champlain, and the maps 
from whence the extracts and fac similies were made, which 
have been forwarded. The American Ageni lms opposed ad- 
mitting th Hilied extracts and maps above mentioned in 

evidence; and I doubt the Commissioners receiving them, 
while the originals can be procured. Permit me therefore 
to request your Lordships attention to having this Edition 
of Champlain forwarded during the Autumn or very early in 
the Spring. 

1 have been so fortunate as to procure a very excellent 
french Atlas published in 1755 which lays down the Rivers in 
the Bay of Passamaquady very correctly, and gives the name 
of St. Croix to the Western Branch of the River. Also a 
french Map stated to be a correction of Mitchels. D. Anvills 
Map. and several other very favorable descriptions of the 
River; all of which I have delivered to Mr. Chipman. 



FROM MR. LISTON. 

Philadelphia .'50 ,h October 1797. 
Sir, 

I have had the pleasure of receiving your letter No. 6 of the 
l-'li of lasl month (accompanied with a private one of the 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 77 

same date) and have to thank yon for the satisfactory account 
you have given me of the State of your proceedings. 

I had some weeks ago prepared a dispatch to His Majesty's 
Agent, which I meant to have accompanied with a copy of a 
couple of maps published by authority of the British Government 
at the time of the disputes with the Court of France concerning 
the boundaries of the respective Crowns on this side the Atlan- 
tick, which ultimately led to the war of 1756 ; but I was prevent- 
ed from sending my packet by a report early spread here, that 
the Commissioners were not to enter on the business till next 
year, and that your stay at Boston would be extremely short. 1 
I have now resolved to forward the packet I allude to, to- 
gether with Mitchell's map, by some one of His Majesty's Ships 
of war that may be bound to Halifax : and as I propose to set 
out in a few days on an excursion to Norfolk in Virginia, 
I think of carrying it with me, and delivering it myself into 
the hands of some of the Captains who I think will take 
proper care of it. 

His Majesty's Secretary of State communicated to me the 
observation made by you ou the difference between the terms 
of your Commission, and those of the one given by the Presi- 
dent of the United States to Mr. Howell, and His Lordship di- 
rected me to request an explanatory declaration on the subject 
on the part of the American Ministry. On executing this 
commission, I perceived that Colonel Pickering was a little 
hurt as well at the imputation of inaccuracy or insufficiency 
thus cast od an Instrument which had been carefully drawn 
up by himself, as at the surmise that appeared to be started 
respecting the sincerity and good faith of the Government of 
the United States. I did not therefore insist upon any changes 
being made in Mr. Howell's Commission, aud contented myself 
with a general declaration, made to me by authority, that the 
President would give the decision of the Commissioners full 
force and effect. I do not indeed entertain the smallest appre- 
hension that any difficulty will occur with regard to the exe- 

1 Colonel Barclay's return to Nova died about the 20th of September, 
Scotia was hastened by the illness 1797, soon after Barclay's arrival at 
of his youngest child, Clement, who home. 



78 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

cution of the award of the majority of the Commissioners, 
whatever it may be. I have &c. 

Rob. Liston. 



TO MR. LISTON. 

Annapolis, 23 Dec r 1797. 
Sir, 

I was favored with your letter of the 30th of last mouth a 
few weeks since. Mr. Chipman and myself will be greatly 
obliged to you for the Copies of the maps you propose sending 
by Captain Cochrane. — It is necessary His Majesty's Agent 
should be in possession of everything that has been published 
on the Subject to which his agency extends: and admit ting 
all the maps which have hitherto been pubbshed of that part 
of the River Scodiac and its branch the Chiputnaticook be- 
yond the falls to have been merely ideal or at best taken from 
Indian information, still the general prevailing opinion of the 
direction of that River will operate forcibly in the decision of 
the question. 

It was my duty to communicate to Lord Grenville the vari- 
ance between Mr. Howells Commission and mine for His Ma 
jestys information and to remove from myself all responsi- 
bility respecting it — In doing this my intention was the 
reverse of Imputing inaccuracy or insufficiency to the instru- 
ments you mention as having been framed by Mr. Pickering, 
on the contrary my letter plainly imports that the American 
Commission was drawn up in the Words of the fifth Article of 
the treaty, and that His Majestys Commission to me went be- 
yond the expressions used in that Article. Previous explana- 
tions on points which admit of doubt are all ways proper and 
particularly necessary where responsibility attaches; nor ought 
constructions to be left open for future argument, when the 
present moment admits of an explanation. I am really sorry 
Mr. Pickering could suppose my letter above alluded to car- 
ried with it the most distant hint of a suspicion of the Siu- 
c. ■ i ■ i t \ and good Faith of the Government of the uuited States. 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 79 

Inclosed is a copy of it, and you will do me a favor by explain- 
ing it to him, who assuredly at the present very much miscon- 
ceives what I had represented. 



FROM MR. LISTON. 

Philadelphia, 4th April, 1798. 
Sir, 

Since the date of my last (which was of the 30th of October) 
I have not had the pleasure of hearing from you. 

On the 4th of December I forwarded from Norfolk (in Vir- 
ginia) a letter to Mr. Chipman, which I flatter myself he has 
received, since Captain Cochrane, to whom it was entrusted, 
had a very favourable passage to Halifax. It was accompanied 
with Mitchell's Map of North America, with the correction, and 
a copy of the maps published by the Courts of Great Britain 
and France, to illustrate their reciprocal pretensions on the 
subject of the limits of Acadia and Nova Scotia, prior to the 
war of 1756. These are the only materials that have come in 
my way which appear to me to deserve notice ; and I have only 
to repeat what I have already observed on the subject, that 
Mr. Chipman seems to be already in possession of so much in- 
formation, and to treat the subject with such superior ability, 
that he scarcely stands in need of any assistance whatever. 

I have received orders to negotiate and conclude an addi- 
tional article to the Treaty of Amity Commerce and Naviga- 
tion, with a view to liberate you from the obligation of fixing 
(with a precision perhaps impossible to obtain) the longitude 
and latitude of the source of the St. Croix, and to stipulate 
some other method of ascertaining the question respecting the 
disputed boundary between the two countries. The American 
Minister is willing to proceed as soon as may be to this busi- 
ness with me (although he had at the same time authorized 
Mr. King to manage the affair in London) ; but the attention 
of this Government has for some time past been so completely 
engrossed by their dispute with France, that it has been im- 
possible for Colonel Pickering to find leisure to give the neces- 



80 correspondence of thomas Barclay 

sary consideration to the subject. As soon as it is in my 
power, I will transmit to you and to Lieutenant Governor 
Carleton a draught of the article we may think likely to an- 
swer the purpose, that you may favour us with such altera- 
tions and amendments as shall in your opinion be expedient. 
I have &c Rob. Liston. 

P. S. Since writing the above, I find by letters from Lord 
Grenville that the additional article alluded to in my letter is 
to be negociated in London. R. L. 



TO MR. LISTON. 

Annapolis 2nd May, 1798. 

(PHcate.) 
Str, 

Mr. Thornton ' by the last Post from Halifax forwarded me 
your dispatch, No. 1 of the 4th of April. Before this, I hope 
my Letter of the 23 of Dec/ has come to your hands. It was put 
on board a Brig which was to have sailed from Digby about 
the hitter end of December for Philadelphia ; the severity of 
the weather and violence of the Gales induced the owners to 
postpone her departure until March, when she sailed for Balti- 
more. I now enclose a duplicate and hope you will be able to 
remove the unfavorable impression Mr. Pickering through 
mistake entertains of my suggestion to Lord Grenville. 

The letter and the maps you some time since forwarded b}^ 
Captain Cochrane have been transmitted to Mr. Chipman, who 
is not a little flattered with the favorable opinion you entertain 
of his industry. I have no doubt you will be pleased with the 
ease he has made out on the part of His Majesty; it was my 
wish to have forwarded a copy for your and Mr. Bonds peru- 
sal ; the Secretary however has not yet had leisure to make 
me one. 

The Commissioners and Agents conceived it unnecessary, 

1 Edward Thornton, the British Secretary of Legation. 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 81 

and a measure that would greatly retard the conclusion of the 
question, to ascertain the Latitude and Longitude of the Source 
of the River; because the taking the latitude and Longitude 
at the mouth of the River and giving a minute description of 
the Courses and distances from thence to its source would 
completely answer every purpose intended and identify the 
source beyond the possibility of future doubt. Under these 
impressions the Agents were permitted to apply to their re- 
spective Governments, that that, part of the directions in the 
fifth Article of the treaty might be dispensed. By your 
favor I find that in addition to this " a new Article is to be 
negotiated in London whereby some other method will be 
adopted for ascertaining the question respecting the dis- 
puted boundary between the two Countries." Ignorant of 
the particular object this article is proposed to embrace 
it is out of my power to give an opinion of its expedi- 
ency; still I consider it my duty to state for your and my 
Lord Grenville's information the probable issue under the 
present Commission admitting it is proceeded on according 
to their original instructions. — The River Magaguadavic con- 
templated by the Americans as the S t# Croix, can never be eon- 
firmed as such. Its only support is Indian tradition, while 
every document, description, actual survey and representation 
prove the reverse. — The Scoodiac therefore will be the river 
comprehended in the decision of the decision of the Comm rs - — 
But as this River divides itself into two Branches some dis- 
tance above the falls, the one the Chipatnaticook tending very 
nearly north, the other the continuance of the Scoodiac West 
North West ; it will become a question with the Commission- 
ers which of these two Branches are to be considered as the S'- 
Croix intended in the treaty of 1783 — Printed and written 
evidence are in favor of the latter, to which I may add that on 
comparing the actual Surveys of these two Branches with the 
most correct maps extant, the resemblance will be found to 
operate strongly in favor of the western Branch, particularly 
at the Sources. It follows from hence that circumstances are 
in favor of the Question being determined to the extent of his 
Majesty s claim, and even under the most unfavorable Event 



82 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

that an offset of upwards of 20 miles "West will be gained be- 
tween the Magaguadavic & Chipatuaticook. 

The course of the Chiputuatecook from its mouth to its 
source is very nearly north. By examining the maps, you will 
readily discover that a line drawn due North from the mouth 
of this River to the Highlands will leave a large part of New 
Brunswic to the Westward of this line and cut off the commu- 
nication between that Province and Canada; whereas a North 
line drawn from the Western extremity of the Scoodiac, if it 
did not leave new Brunswic entire, would take but a very 
small portion from it. If therefore the new Article in contem- 
plation goes to confirm the Western Source it may be an object 
of moment. In the negotiation however the Magaguadavic 
must be removed even from the back ground, and the Chiput- 
natecook and Scoodiac spoken of as the only possible streams 
in question. I have taken the liberty to give you my senti- 
ments, least Lord Greuville might be induced to consider the 
question of the two rivers as still involved in doubt and from 
thence be led to yeild a greater equivalent than he otherwise 
would do. In negotiating this new Article it is of moment to 
comprehend the Islands in the Bay of Passaniaquady which ap- 
pertain to his Majesty beyond contradiction, some of the best 
of which are now in the possession of the Americans. 

The Agent on the part of the United States during the last 
Winter applied through Mr. Chipman for my consent to a 
farther adjournment of the meeting of the Commissioners, 
which stood for the first Monday in June, suggesting as his 
motive the survey, not being completed and the impracticabil- 
ity of his finishing the case on the part of the United States 
before he was in possession of a copy of the survey. To this 
application I gave a negative. He has since repeated his re- 
quest and in addition to his former reasons, added that in case 
the board met in June, he would be compelled to protest 
against delivering in his argument in an unfinished State and 
to pray a further day. Previous to the receipt of this, Sir John 
Wentworth had requested me in pointed terms to postpone if 
practicable the meeting of the Commissioners until the latter 
end of July, that I might attend the next Session of the House 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 83 

of Assembly. I have been therefore induced to acceed to Mr. 
Sullivans proposal, and acquainted the other Com rs if they had 
no objection, I was willing to extend the time to the 23rd of 
July. 

From the communication in your letter I have reason to sus- 
pect Mr. Sullivan to be at the bottom of " the proposal for the 
additional article " you mention. I am led to this opinion from 
the very particular manner in which he stands pledged to con- 
firm the Magaguadavic as the St. Croix, not only in his His- 
tory of the Province of Maine, but the general Language he 
has held for years past in public and Private ; He must now 
be fully convinced that the Event will be unfavorable to his 
position and wish to avoid the Odium and censure that inevit- 
ably will follow an adjudication unfavorable to his assertions, 
and the only method of doing this is by suspending the present 
question and altering the nature of the issue. 



TO MR. LISTON. 

Annapolis, 10th May, 1798. 

Sir. 

I did myself the Honor on the second of this month to reply 
to your favor of the 4th of April, since which Mr. Chipman has 
enclosed me a copy of Lord Grenvilles letter to you under date 
the 9th January last, from which I find I had given too exten- 
sive a construction to your expressions " and to stipulate some 
other method of ascertaining the question respecting the dis- 
puted boundary between the two Countries " ; and that you in- 
tended nothing more, than that this new Article should, in 
addition to exonerating the Commissioners from expressing in 
their declaration the Latitude and Longitude at the Source of 
the River, prescribe some particular mode for perpetuating the 
boundary between the North East Bounds of the State of 
Massachusetts and the North West Angle of Nova Scotia, the 
terminus a quo the North line deducted in the treaty of 1783 
is to commence. 

It is unnecessary for me to remark the difficulty that at- 



84 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

tends astronomical, or indeed any other observations in uncul- 
tivated Countries, and Climates subject to fogs and cloudy 
weather, that a variation of a few minutes will create a greater 
difference in the Longitude, than perhaps the nearest collat- 
eral stream is really distant from the River St. Croix, and that 
if at a future period the Latitude and Longitude should be 
again taken, the degrees expressed in our adjudication, may 
be found to correspond with the source of a stream, other than 
the one intended. To prevent these difficulties, it was the wish 
of the Commissioners that they might be authorized to omit 
in their declaration the Latitude and Longitude at the Source 
of the River ; to supply which it was our intention to annex to 
the Declaration, as his Lordship very properly advises a cor- 
rect map of the Bay of Passamaquady with all its rivers, par- 
ticularly the St. Croix from the mouth to the source thereof, 
designating every stream or fork that empties its waters into 
it. A map thus compiled from accurate surveys, whereon the 
courses and distances are minutely laid down, and every col- 
lateral stream represented on a proportionable Scale will inev- 
itably place the Source of the River beyond the probability of 
future doubt. The Comm rs . in establishing the point which is 
hence forward to be considered as the Source, will naturally take 
the upper most lake, or some other prominent feature near the 
Source, and from thence give the bearings and distances to the 
Source. It may possibly not be amiss to erect a stone column 
on the Spot, as a monument, and to have it revisited every 
third year ; I cannot however say I think it a measure either 
safe or necessary. 

The present dispute owes its origin to the want of correct 
maps of the Rivers in the bay of Passamaquady, and definite 
uames to the river of all which the Americans in 1783 were 
equally ignorant with his Majestys subjects. The dispute is 
not as to the Source, but which is the River, and I take it for 
granted, the river once established, the source will readily be as- 
certained. With all deferance therefore to his Lordships opinion, 
I am led to believe the map intended to be annexed to the declar- 
ation, will prove a more safe guide, to find thesource of the River 
St. Croix ; than any monument that Art can erect. If anion- 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 85 

uuient is erected the map and declaration will in future be con- 
trouled by that land mark, because it is composed of matter, 
and place is the very object and essence of its foundation, 
whereas the descriptive part of the declaration will be founded 
on the map, which is no more than an ideal representation, 
protracted from a measurement. Between individuals cases 
frequently occur whose landmarks are basely transposed, the 
same sinister motives may lead persons owning lands in North 
eastern parts of Massachusetts to remove a national boundary 
solemnly erected by the consent of the two nations. Admit- 
ting some of the Inhabitants of Massachusetts were induced by 
interest to remove this structure, to the next eastern stream ; 
how easily and privately might it be effected, in a desert up- 
wards of seventy miles from any settlement? This done, it 
would only be necessary to secure the testimony of one of the 
persons appointed to inspect, and the whole question would again 
be open for negotiation or controversy, with the addi- 
tional onus on the part of Great Britain to prove the removal 
of the monument; a fact not easy under common circum- 
stances, and perhaps impossible, if the person who inspected it 
on the part of Great Britain, was dead. I admit such a case to 
be highly improbable, still while it is within the degrees of 
possibility, is it not evident that a natural, notorious object 
near the source of the river, which nothing less than a convul- 
sion of nature can injure or destroy, and will be a preferable 
Guide, for the information of succeeding Ages, to a pillar of 
stone, which may as easily be removed, as raised, and which 
by removal would only change its place, but not its form or 
effect. Extend this Idea, and suppose engraved on this Pillar 
an inscription, purporting it was erected by order of His Maj- 
esty and the united States of America to identify and perpet- 
uate, the place hereafter to be considered as the Source of the 
River St. Croix ; what would the consequence be, if it was re- 
moved to the head of the next eastern stream. The persons 
sent to inspect it at the expiration of three years, might never 
have been there before, and of course consider it as standing 
in its original position ; but admitting they suspected it had 
been removed, neither the declaration of the Commissioners 



86 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

or the Map subjoined could effect its locality, nor could it be 
reconveyed to the original Station without at least the inter- 
position of the two powers, a measure dependant on the good 
understanding then subsisting between them. 



FROM MR. LISTON. 

Philadelphia, 11 June, 1798. 
Sir, 

I have been favored with your letters No. 1 and 2 of this 
year, from Anapolis, enclosing a duplicate of your No. 7 of 
last year, the original of which has not yet come to hand. 

With regard to the terms made use of in the full powers of 
the respective commissioners, which gave rise to an application 
by me to the American Government in consequence of orders 
from home, the fact is, that I did not, on reading Lord Gren- 
ville's letter on the subject, rightly comprehend the difference 
that had struck you. It never once came into my head that 
there could be any doubt with respect to the validity of the 
decision of a majority of the three commissioners; so that I 
merely copied what Lord Grenville had said to me, blindly 
obeying my orders, without understanding the reasons of 
them. And I believe the American Secretary of State com- 
prehended them as little as I did. I shall now take an op- 
portunity of explaining the matter to Colonel Pickering; 
through the distance of time is so great and the dissatisfaction 
shewed by him was so slight, that it is hardly worth while to 
return to the subject. 

The additional article with regard to the ascertaining of the 
source of the River St. Croix having been concluded in Lon- 
don, and ratified by His Majesty and by the President, I take 
an opportunity of forwarding a copy of it. 1 

1 It was signed in London, March ment " at the source of the St. Croix, 

L5, L798; and its ratification advised instead of ascertaining the latitude 

by the Senate, June 5, 1789. It pro- and longitude of that spot. 
rides for erecting " a suitable mouu- 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 87 

I think with you, Sir, that a monument of stone is liable to 
be removed by ill-designing persons, unless indeed it were 
constructed at a large expenee ; — such for instance as an 
Egyptian obelisk, — (an immense column of one piece of stone,) 
— which could not be placed upright without a great union of 
force and skill, an operation that must make a great impres- 
sion on all the neighborhood, and that individuals could not 
afford to undertake. Since it has been determined on how- 
ever, I suppose it must be erected. At the same time there is 
surely no reason why the additional evidence, — to be derived 
from a map or chart of the course of the river, — should not be 
rendered as precise and authentick as possible. Natural ob- 
jects, of great size, of a particular kind, might be designated 
in the map, and in the declaration or award of the commis- 
sioners. It is right, and it is essentially necessary, that no pos- 
sible doubt should be left remaining. 

I propose soon to take an opportunity of sounding the 
American Ministry concerning the Islands in the Bay. 

I remain, &c Rob. Liston. 



FROM MR. CHIPMAN TO MR. LISTON. 

Providence 23 d Oct. 1798. 

(Private.) 
Sir, 

I have the honor to inform you that the proposed decision 
and declaration of the Commissioners before whom I have been 
appointed to manage the business as Agent on the part of His 
Majesty, have been communicated to me by which it appears 
that the River Scudiac claimed on the part of his Majesty to 
be the Source of its Western branch is to be decided to be the 
River St. Croix truly intended under that name in the Treaty 
of Peace the Source of this Branch is however in this decision 
particularized to be where it issues from the Lake Genesaga- 
rumsis the Easternmost of the Scudiac Lakes and distant about 



88 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

five miles and three quarters on a direct course from where 
the Cheputnaticook falls into it. Altho' this decision is very 
flattering to me, as it establishes every principle upon which 
the claim on the part of his Majesty was founded, and is fully 
accordant with the prayer of that claim, still in it's consequen- 
ces I fear it will prove very inconvenient if not injurious to 
the Interest of the Province of New Brunswick, as a North line 
from this Source will intersect the River St. John so as to leave 
the Military posts at Presque Isle, and the Grand Falls and 
every part of the River St. John above Presque Isle, which is 
about Eighty miles above Fredericton within the territory of 
the United States. Some inconveniences will at the same time 
result to the United States from this decision, as the North line 
from this Source will leave in His Majesty's dominions a con- 
siderable tract of Country lying between this line and the 
River Cheputnaticook which has been granted to Individuals 
by the State of Massachusets. These inconveniences are con- 
sidered so great by the Agent of the United States as to induce 
him to propose to me an accommodation between the two Gov- 
ernments, by an Agreement to recommend to the Commissioners 
to decide the Northernmost Source of the Cheputnaticook to be 
the Source of the Saint Croix, in lieu of the Source above men- 
tioned. By such a decision the North Line from this Source 
will run Nine Miles to the Westward of the Post at Presque 
Isle and upwards of four miles to the westward of the Grand 
Falls and will intersect the River St. John one hundred and 
thirty five miles above Fredericton as you will perceive by the 
Maps accompanying this Letter. Not only therefore a very 
great tract of country will be gained by the alteration of the 
place to be particularized as the Source of the River but the 
communication with Canada by the River St. John will remain 
to a much greater extent unbroken. Had I any authority to 
enter into a negotiation of this nature I should not hesitate to 
accede to this proposal and to endeavor to effect a decision 
in conformity to it, but such as an undertaking is beyond my 
duty or powers as his Majesty's Agent. I consider it therefore 
extremely fortunate that I have an opportunity of consulting 
you Sir upon this occasion, by your accidental arrival at this 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROEX 89 

place at a moment so critical, as the final declaration is expected 
to be signed this day. 

I have been given to understand that nothing has induced 
Colonel Barclay to assent to the decision now in contempla- 
tion, but the consideration, that the Commissioners would 
otherwise separate without coming to any determination, and 
that it is so dissatisfactory to Mr. Howell the American Com- 
missioner originally appointed that he will not sign it, as he 
contends for the Cheputnaticook River and that its Source 
should be particularized to be, where it issues from the first or 
most eastern lake connected with that Branch ; he is therefore 
averse to the proposed alteration, but will accede to it, if rec- 
ommended by the Agent on the part of the United States. I 
am aware that difficulties may arise in carrying the proposed 
agreement into effect, as the other Commissioners have not 
been yet consulted upon it, but if I have your approbation and 
sanction of the measure, I shall feel myself justified in attempt- 
ing to avail myself of an opportunity, which may perhaps 
never again present itself of effecting upon so easy terms a 
settlement of this Boundary line in a manner so favorable to 
His Majesty's interests, and at the same time an event so 
desirable as an unanimous decision of the Commissioners in 
the present cause. 

I shall hope for an answer to this Letter as speedily as may 
consist with your convenience and the urgency of the occasion. 

I have, &c. 

W. Chipman. 



FROM MR. LISTON TO MR. CHIPMAN. 

Providence, 23 d Oct. 1798. 

(Private.) 
Sir, 

I have considered with attention your Letter of this day, and 
it appears to me evident, that the adoption of the River Che- 
putnaticook as a part of the Boundary between his Majesty's 



90 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

American Dominions, and those of the United States in pref- 
erence to a line drawn from the Easternmost point of the 
Scudiac Lakes, would be attended with considerable advantage. 
It would give an addition of territory to the Province of New 
Brunswick, together with a greater extent of Navigation on 
St. Johns River, and above all a longer stretch of natural 
frontier calculated to prevent future difficulties and discussions 
between the two countries. 

If therefore by assenting to the proposal of the American 
Agent you can bring about the unanimous concurrence of the 
Commissioners in this measure, I am of opinion that you will 
promote His Majesty's real interests ; and I will take the earli- 
est opportunity with a view to your justification of expressing 
these my Sentiments on the Subject to his Majesty's Secretary 
of State. I have, &c, 

Rob. Liston. 



TO LORD GRENVILLE. 

Annapolis, Nova Scotia, 10th Nov., 1798. 

My Lord, 

I have the Honor to inform your Lordship that I returned 
to this place on Saturday last from Providence in the State of 
Rhode Island, having on the 26 of October compleated the 
Commission with which his Majesty has been pleased to honor 
me ; the event of which I trust will meet His most Gracious 
approbation. 

A copy of the Declaration of the Commissioners is herewith 
inclosed to your Lordship, an original of which with a map of 
the Territory in dispute has been delivered to his Majesty's 
agent. ] Your Lordship will observe that the Event has been 
very favorable, the River claimed on the part of His Majesty 
,is the true St. Croix having been confirmed as such by the 

i The a ward of the Commissioners various other documents relating to 
will be fon Hi I in American State Pa- this matter are printed. 
pers, For. Bel., Vol. VI, p. 921, where 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 91 

Commissioners. It was not, however, in their power to extend 
the Western Limits of the late Province of Nova Scotia to the 
extreme point claimed by His Majesty's Agent, to wit, "ad 
scatureginem sive fontem ex occidentali parte ejusdem, qui se 
primnm praedicto flnvio immisset," the words made use of in 
the Grant of King James to Sir William Alexander. Had the 
boundaries contained in the Commissions to the Governors of 
Nova Scotia from the year 17G3 tallied with those in Sir Wil- 
liam Alexander's Grant, Mr. Benson the third Commissioner 
would readily have gone with me in establishing the most re- 
mote Western spring on the Scoudiac, as the Source of the 
River St. Croix, but as those Commissions use only the expres- 
sion of to the Source of the River St. Croix, Mr. Howell con- 
ceived the Chiputnatucook from its superior magnitude to be 
the branch, we were to follow for the Source ; while Mr. Ben- 
son and myself were of opinion that the continuation of the 
Scoodiac was the real St. Croix, because it had ever retained 
the same Indian name with its waters, below this ramification 
of the River. Mr. Benson, however, could not from the words 
of the treaty of Peace in 1783 ; or the boundaries of the Prov- 
ince of Nova Scotia as expressed in the Commissions to the 
Governors from the year 1763 find himself authorized to pro- 
ceed farther up the River Scoudiac for the Source, than where 
the waters issue from the lake Genesagaragum-siss into the 
Scoudiac, a distance of not more than five miles from the 
mouth of the Chiputnatecook, as your Lordship will observe 
by reverting to the map annexed to the declaration. The fol- 
lowing were his objections. That previous to the year 17G3 
the only bounds to the Province of Nova Scotia were those 
expressed in the Grant to Sir William Alexander, the then 
Western limits of which "were the most remote Source or 
Spring on the Western side of the said River (the St. Croix) 
which first mingles its waters with the aforesaid River." That 
this most Western Source or fountain, was from a literal trans- 
lation of the words, a stream of water different from the St. 
Croix, and at all Events could not ex vi termini merely be con- 
sidered the Source of the River St. Croix ; that the Commis- 
sions to the respective Governors of Nova Scotia from the 



92 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

establishment of the Province to the year 1763 were general 
and without expressing any particular bounds. In 1763, when 
the French ceded Canada to Great Britain, the Northern limits 
of Nova Scotia were narrowed and confined to the Highlands, 
&c, &c, a commission to Montague Wilmot as Governor of 
Nova Scotia issued soon after in which commission new bounds 
were given to Nova Scotia in the "Words following, " bounded 
on the Westward by a line drawn from Cape Sable across the 
enterance of the Bay of Fundy to the mouth of the River St. 
Croix, by the said River to its Source and by a line drawn due 
North from thence to the Southern boundary of our Colony of 
Quebec." 

These same boundaries are expressed in several Subsequent 
Commissions. That the Words to its Source in these com- 
missions and in the treaty of Peace in 1783, are very different 
from those of " most remote source or Spring on the Western 
side of the said River which first mingles its waters with the 
aforesaid river" made use of in Sir William Alexanders Grant, 
That a chain of Lakes could not be called a river, in proof of 
which Mr. Benson referred to the second Article of the 
Treaty of Peace between His Majesty and the United States 
of America, wherein the River St. Lawrence is considered to 
cease at the Lake Ontario, and all the Waters that connect the 
lakes from Ontario to the lake of the Woods are called water 
communications and not the River St. Lawrence. That the 
lake in the Woods was as much the Source of this River, as 
the most remote western lake of the Scoudiac was of the St. 
Croix. He therefore could not with propriety go beyond the 
first lake in the Scoudiac for the Source of the St, Croix — so 
far he could consistantly go, beyond it, all was uncertain, and 
mere conjecture. Mr. Howell adopted a similar mode of 
arguing for the Source of the St. Croix on the Chiputnate- 
cook. After much debate between Mr. Benson and myself 
as to the source of the River, His Majesty's Agent, with the 
advice of Mr. Liston the Envoy Extraordinary requested me 
to acceed to the Chiputnatecook provided I could obtain the 
northwest Source of that River. To this point Mr. Benson, 
as a matter of negotiation and accommodation between the 



THE TRUE RIVER ST. CROIX 93 

nations, readily assented. 1 Mr. Howell declined being a party 
to the declaration; until it was engrossed and ready for ex- 
ecution. He then reluctantly directed his name to be inserted 
in the Declaration, which he eventually signed. By taking 
the Northwest Source of the Chiputnatecook, instead of the 
Scoudiac where it joins the lakes, we gain a very considerable 
addition of territory, and the line to be drawn from thence 
due North will intersect the River St. John very high up, 
some distance above the Grand falls. Whereas a North line 
from the lake Genesagaragum-Siss would have crossed the 
River St. John to the Southward of the Post at Presque Isle. 
By the present decision all grants under the Crown are se- 
cured. The mast country preserved and about nine-tenths of 
the Lands in dispute confirmed to the King ; in addition to 
all which the Chiputnatecook putting the Grant of Alexander 
out of the Question, is beyond all doubt the principal feeder 
of the River St. Croix, and of course the Branch on which the 
Source is to be found and from its direct course an infinitely 
preferable national boundary to the upper part of the Scou- 
diac. I shall leave to His Majesty's Agent to explain the 
effect our decision will have on the Bay of Passamaquady 
and the Islands therein ; adding only this remark that the 
Commissioners could not find the mouth of the River St. 
Croix (agreeably to the treaty of Peace) in the Bay of Fundy, 

1 Judge Benson's views as sum- not capable of being liquidated by 
marized in this letter, were pre- calculation or definite Rule, and 
served more at length in a MS. therefore to be assessed accord- 
memorandum, a copy of which was ing to discernment or discretion ; a 
filed in 1817 with the Commissioners latitude of arbitrament is in such 
under the 4th Article of the Treaty cases supposed to be permitted to 
of Ghent. It is published in Rec the Jurors, but as they must at the 
Mass. Hist. Soc, Oct., 1887. In re- same time agree in a precise sum, 
gard to the compromise concerning accommodation of sentiment among 
the point to be selected as the them to a degree is necessary and 
source of the St. Croix, he says: consequently justifiable." This ex- 
" The reference, as it respected the plains Benson's readiness to assent 
Source of the River being as it were to the selection of the northwest 
an appeal to mere judgment or branch t)f the Chiputuaticook "as 
opinion, is in that view analogous a matter of negotiation and accom- 
to cases of assessment of damages, modation." 



94 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

but at a Point near St. Andrews at the head of the Bay of 
Passainaquady. 

I have repeatedly observed to your Lordship that the sur- 
veys of the Rivers were the sole cause of procrastinating the 
decision. The Arguments also of the Agents have been dif- 
fuse in the extreme. These were closed on the 22d of Sep- 
tember, and the maps compiled from the Surveys by the Sur- 
veyor General of New Brunswic arrived at Providence the 
15th of October. The Commissioners on that day entered 
on their decision and the declaration was executed on the 
26th of that month. It has been my constant study to pro- 
mote His Majesty's Interest by every means within my power 
consistent with my duty as a Commissioner ; and if my con- 
duct happily meets the approbation of my Sovereign, your 
Lordship and His Majestys other Ministers, it will afford me 
infinite satisfaction. 



CHAPTER III 

CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 

The question of the River St. Croix being thus hap- 
pily disposed of, Colonel Barclay, — after a brief 
visit to New- York, — returned to Nova Scotia in the lat- 
ter part of the year 1798 to take up again his duties at 
the bar and in the legislature, and to go on with the de- 
velopment and sale of his lands. His children were 
fast growing up, and their settlement in life was begin- 
ning to claim his constant care and thought. Of the 
three eldest, Eliza was indeed happily married; but 
Henry was almost out of his apprenticeship as a clerk 
with Hartshorne & Boggs, of Halifax, and money would 
be wanting to establish him in business; while De Lan- 
cey was loitering away his time as an officer in a f encible 
regiment. 

To support a family of ten children — to marry the 
daughters — to buy commissions and partnerships for 
the sons — was no easy task upon the income and with 
the opportunities of a lawyer in a Nova Scotia village. 
But their stay in the British provinces was nearly at 
an end. Barclay's report on the boundary had hardly 
reached the Foreign Office when he was appointed 
British Consul-General for the Eastern States of Amer- 
ica in the room of Sir John Temple, deceased. l 

1 Sir John Temple Bart, was the relative, Sir Richard Temple, of 
son of Robert Temple of Boston, Stowe in Buckinghamshire, in 1786, 
Mass. On the death of his distant he succeeded to this ancient baron- 

95 



96 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

On June 15, 1799, Barclay and his wife arrived once 
more in New York to find again the home which they 
had lost nearly sixteen years before. He was now just 
forty-six ; she a year younger. Their daughters were 
all with them, but of the sons, only Henry and Beverley 
accompanied their parents to New- York. George and 
Anthony, the two little boys, were at school at Wind- 
sor, N. S. ; for the gentleman of genius at £30 a year, 
whom Colonel Barclay had wished to import from 
Scotland, had never been discovered. Thomas the 
younger had also been left behind at school; but on 
September 1, 1799, being then nearly sixteen, H. M. S. 
Boston received him aboard as a midshipman, and 
he sailed away for his share of glory and prize-money. 
De Lancey, too, was soon to leave Nova Scotia, for on 
January 11, 1800, he was appointed an Ensign in the 
Forty-first Regiment of Foot, then stationed in Canada. 

The summer of 1799 was probably passed by Barclay 
and his household near Flushing ; but in the Autumn of 
that year he hired the house No. 142 Greenwich street, 
at what he considered the extravagant rent of £250, 
New- York currency, or $625 a year. His salary was 
nominally £1500 a year, but it was paid with the 
greatest irregularity and was subject to heavy deduc- 
tions for taxes, office fees, and other impositions. Bar- 
clay entertained largely, seeing, as he says, more com- 
pany in a month than Sir John Temple in a year. But 
writing a couple of years later to his sister Cornelia in 
England, he complains that neither he nor his wife 
"relish the mode of life which we are compelled to 

etey. He married, January20, 1767, York, November 17, 1798. A monu- 

Elizabeth, daughter of Governor ment erected to his memory stands 

Bowdoin, ><\' Massachusetts; was in St. Paul's Church on the north side 

appointed British Consul-General in of the chancel. His successor's com- 

Pehruary, L785, ami died in New- mission bears date January 2G, 1799. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 97 

from my situation ; and yet," he adds, " we are far from 
entering into the gay circles of dissipation. In two 
years I have been only to one assembly and two plays, 
to 1 private balls probably eight or ten. Both of us 
grow old, are fond of early hours, and have lost all rel- 
ish for those gay Scenes that once afforded pleasure." 
About this period (for the date is not quite certain) 
Maria Barclay, the second daughter, was married to 
Simon Fraser, a gentleman of the name and family of 
that Lord Lovat who "suffered" in 1745. Mr. Fraser 
settled in British Guiana as a planter, living on the river 
Berbice, and so Maria disappeared henceforth from the 
family circle. 

Public affairs for the first three years after Barclay's 
return to New- York wore a doubtful aspect. The Fed- 
eralists went out with Adams and the Republicans 
came in with Jefferson. The troubles with England 
were temporarily ended, but no man could tell when 
they might break out again. With France we were 
actually at war. In Europe there was no peace. Ma- 
rengo and Hohenlinden were fought on land, and the 
battle of Copenhagen at sea. England took Malta and 
Minorca and drove the French from Egypt. Pitt fell 
from power, and Addington succeeded him — to make 
peace with France and imperil relations with the United 
States. And some echo of these great events found its 
way into New- York, where peace reigned and merchants 
were growing rich upon the profits of the neutral trade. 

TO LORD GRENVILLE. 

Annapolis, 11th May, 1799. 
My Lord: 

I was last Evening honored with yonr Lordships dispatch 
of the 19th of January last, informing me of your having had 



98 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

the Goodness to submit my name to His Majesty, as a proper 
person to succeed the late Sir John Temple, as His Majesty's 
Consul General for the Eastern States of America, and that 
His Majesty had been graciously pleased to confer upon me 
that appointment. Also that my commission would be trans- 
mitted to Mr. Liston by the next Packet, and that it was His 
Majesty's pleasure I should remove to New York with as 
much expedition as the situation of my private affairs will 
allow. 

Permit me to intreat your Lordship to lay at His Majesty s 
feet, my most humble acknowledgements for this repeated in- 
stance of His Royal Favor, and with all due submission to 
assure His Majesty I shall by an unremitted attention to my 
duty endeavor in some degree to merit this most gracious 
testimony of His Royal confidence, and I earnestly request 
your Lordship will be pleased to accept of my most grateful 
thanks for your kind offices, and I trust my conduct will in 
no instance afford your Lordship occasion to regret the favor 
you have conferred on me. 

I shall with all possible expedition arrange my private af- 
fairs and hope within a month from this day to leave this 
Province for New York, of which I shall acquaint Mr. Liston 
by the earliest conveyance. 



FROM MR. BROUGHTON. 

Downing Street, July 2d, 1799. 
Sir: 

I was favored with the receipt of your Letter on Saturday 
last inclosing a Power of Attorney to enable me to receive 
your Appointments as His Majesty's Consul General to the 
Eastern States of America. I lose no time in returning you 
my thanks for this mark of your Confidence, and I shall not 
fail immediately after the receipts of any part of your Allow- 
ances to pay the Balance over to Messrs. Brook, Watson & 
Co. after deducting the usual Treasury and Exchequer Fees 
and the Agency of G:6:0 per Quarter. The Particulars of 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 99 

which I shall not fail to transmit by the first Mail after such 
Payment has been made. 

It may be proper to inform you that the Civil List is now 
Five Quarters in Arrears ; so that it will in all probability be 
some time in April or May 1800 before the Appointments due 
5th. Jauy. 1799 are issued at the Exchequer. 

I send you the Morning Herald, which altho' by no means 
a favorite Paper of mine with regard to Politics, yet as it cer- 
tainly gives the News and Lies of the Day more in detail and 
in a more lively manner than any other Journal, I have 
selected it under the idea that it will prove the most enter- 
taining. 

I am, &c 

Chas. R. Broughton. 1 



TO LORD GRENVILLE. 

New York, 8th August, 1799. 
My Lord: 

In my dispatch of the 16th of June, I stated to your Lord- 
ship the objection that lay to the issuing of my exequatur as 
His Majesty's Consul General for the Eastern States of America 
in consequence of my commission not having arrived, since 
which, on a personal interview with Mr. Pickering, the Ameri- 
can Secretary of State at Philadelphia, the exceptions have 
been so far obviated that letters Patent have issued from the 
President of the United States recognizing me as His Majes- 
ty's Consul General and granting all the Priviledges appertain- 
ing to that office. I at the same time received a letter from 
the Secretary of State, requesting me to forward my commis- 
sion as soon as received that it might be inrolled and an exe- 
quatur be made out. The situation, my Lord, of His Majesty's 
Ships of War, Packets, and Merchant Vessels coming to this 
and the other ports in the United States of America is very 

1 The writer of this letter was a fleers as their agent to settle ac- 
clerk in the Foreign Office, who was counts in London, 
employed by various consular of- 



100 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

unpleasant and truly detrimental to the Service. Captain 
Douglass of His Majesty's Ship Boston who convoyed a num- 
ber of American Merchantmen safe to their respective ports, 
arrived at New York about the 20th of June. The crew of the 
Barge that rowed him to shore were in his presence invited by 
a Dumber of persons who surrounded the Barge, to desert the 
Service, with promises of better pay and protection. In con- 
sequence of this several of Capt. Douglasses best men left the 
barge. He complained to the Mayor of this City who replied 
that if he could identify the persons that seduced his men he 
would have them apprehended. This was impracticable, being 
a total stranger in the City. His Majesty's Packet boats in- 
variably lose a part of the Crews by desertion, who the instant 
they get on shore are at Liberty, or what is still worse and 
more provoking are supported by men whose employment it 
is to procure Seamen for American Merchant Vessels. If a 
captain of a packet was to meet any of his absconding Seamen 
and attempted to carry them by force on board, it is more 
than probable they would be rescued by a mob, but admitting 
he succeeded, a habeas corpus would again set them at liberty, 
the Crimps being ever ready as bail. If the Captain of the 
Packet is either Plaintiff or Defendant, he must remain in this 
City with his witnesses until the Cause is tried, a measure 
which is inconsistent with the Service. Of course he is com- 
pelled to give up the pursuit. The Packets frequently leave 
lliis with little more than half their compliment of Men, and 
trust to Halifax for the remainder. I recollect in May last 
one of them was detained several days in Halifax for want of 
men, and if I am not mistaken, Admiral Vandeput eventually 
furnished her from his own ship. Merchant ships are in a, 
similar situation, and complaints to me are daily. The enor- 
mous pay allowed by the Americans to Seamen is too great a 
temptation for our Sailors to resist. I have taken the liberty 
to state the above to your Lordship possessed of the facts. An 
additional article to the treaty, authorizing the issuing of a 
warrant for apprehending British Seamen deserting, with an 
Act of Congress inflicting pains and penalties on persons 
seducing or even faking into their Service British Seamen, 



CONSUL-GENERAL, .1799-1802 101 

would effectually remedy the Evil. Mr. Listou informs me 
that he has had several conversations on the subject with the 
American Secretary of State, and has hopes that something 
will be agreed on this year for the preventing of these evils. 

The expense of living in this City is so enormously ex- 
travagant and the number of strangers resorting to it, who 
naturally expect invitations and attention from His Majesty's 
Consul so great, that the Salary graciously allowed me by His 
Majesty will fall infinitely short of my annual expenses when 
contracted by the strictest Oeconomy. Under these circum- 
stances, my Lord, I shall in future presume to take, from For- 
eigners only, fees for granting certificates until your Lordships 
pleasure is known. The annual amount may at the utmost 
pay my house rent in this city. I consider it for the Honor 
of my Sovereign and the Interest of the Nation, that I should 
live genteely and hospitably so as to secure a good under- 
standing with the official Characters of this Government and 
all respectable strangers who may visit this City, a measure 
indispensibly necessary to promise early information and to 
facilitate business. 



TO CAPT. BARRON, UNITED STATES SHIP CONSTELLATION. 1 

Hallitts Cove Long Island 1st Oct r 1799. 
Sir: 

Captain Champion of the private armed British Merchant 

ship the acquaints that since his arrival in the port of 

New York, many of his Seamen have deserted and left the Ship 
in violation of their shipping articles, and that some of them 
have been entertained at your recruiting rendevous in the 
City and eventually entered and received on board the united 

1 The Constellation was built at of the ship of 1812. From August 2 

Baltimore and launched in 1797 ; in to November 11, 1799, she was coni- 

1812 she was rebuilt, and techni- manded by Captain Samuel Barron, 

cally is still afloat; but she has been who is not to be confounded with 

repaired so much from time to time his brother, the unfortunate James 

that there can be but little left even Barron. 

7A 



102 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

States Frigate under your Command. I have acquainted 
Captain Champion of my having no doubt but you would on 
a personal application from him, deliver up such men as be- 
long to his Ship, for which purpose he now waits on you. 
He will inform you of the very special condition on which he 
is chartered and the very probable serious consequences 
which will follow to his owners in consequence of the loss of 
these Men. 

In addition to the treaty existing between Great Britain 
and the united States of America; I am convinced the deli- 
cate situations wherein those two powers stand each to the 
other with respect to seamen, will have that weight with you 
which the present case demands. 

From the very handsome and honorable manner in which 
you have ever been represented; T anticipate a favorable 
issue to this application. 

As the present, from the Constellation being under orders 
for sailing the day after tomorrow, will probably be the only 
opportunity I shall have of writing you on this Subject pre- 
vious to your return ; I am reluctantly compelled to add, that 
in case men are not given up I shall be under the necessity 
not only of representing the case officially to your Govern- 
ment, but of transmitting an authenticated Statement of 
Facts to be laid before His Britannic Majesty, a measure you 
must be sensible fraught with the most serious consequences. 



TO MRS. GRACE KEMPE, LONDON. 

New York 2d Oct r 1799. 
Madam : 

Your favor of the 3 d of June came to hand only a few days 
since by the July Packet the Marquis of Kildare. Accept my 
best thanks for your polite and very friendly congratulations 
on my late appointment as His Majesty s Consul General for 
the Eastern States of America. 

I am gratefully sensible of this testimony of Royal con- 
fidence and favor ; and M r8 - Barclay and myself much grati- 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 103 

fied in being once more united in the same circle with many 
of those relations and friends we so reluctantly parted with 
at the close of the American War. — An interval, however, of 
fifteen years has made an astonishing alteration in this City ; 
so that I feel myself almost a perfect stranger in the place of 
my nativity. 1 — By removing to Nova Scotia, new connec- 
tions and acquaintances were formed to whom from their 
amiable manners and sterling worth we became particularly 
attached & of course the parting with these in a great 
measure damped the pleasure a removal to this Country 
would otherwise have produced; in addition to this the 
healthy and charming climate of Nova Scotia was reluctantly 
resigned by us for that of New York which never was healthy 
and latterly has become every Summer really pestilential. 
New York at this moment is nearly deserted owing to the 
prevalence of the yellow fever. I have not been in it for up- 
wards of a fortnight, nor shall I enter it again until the fever 
is removed. — All the Gentlemen of the Law have also re- 
moved into the Country, so that at present it is not in my 
power to sanction with their opinion, that which I shall give 
you of my own. 

You are undoubtedly entitled Madam to your dower in the 
Lands whereof my worthy friend, your husband, was pos- 
sessed. 2 This dower will be valuable in proportion to the 
Lands, and the State of Cultivation they are in — at all Events 
your dower is worth some thing and yon may safely make the 
experiment, because you will receive more than the trifling 
costs you will be put to. The State of New York I understand 
have appointed Commissioners to enquire into claims of dower 
and to report what they consider as an equitable equivalent. 
This in your Situation will be better than being put into the 
possession of wild or remote lands for life, because whatever 
they report is given you as a satisfaction for your dower. 

1 The population of New-York in when a boy. He was for many years 
1783 was estimated at 24,000 ; in Attorney-General of the Province. 
1799 it was upward of 60,000. Having been attainted by the Act of 

2 John Tabor Kempe was a native 1779, he removed to England, where 
of England, but came to New-York he died. 



104 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

The Season will be too far advanced before "this will get to 
hand for you to transmit me any original papers, so that you 
had better postpone sending them until March next, either in 
a packet or Man of War, the latter is the most safe. In the 
mean time forward by the first conveyance your letter of At- 
torney with a memorandum or description of the lands M r 
Kempe possessed and in which you claim a dower — Situation, 
boundaries, and number of Acres, together with the title un- 
der which he held them ; and if there is any indorsement on 
the Grants or Deeds of their inrolment or recording, annex an 
exact copy of it that we may refer to the Registry. 

It will afford me real pleasure in this and every other in- 
stance to render you or any of the family every service in my 
power. M rs Barclay unites with me in sincere regards to 
your daughters and yourself. 



TO MR. GEEENWOOD. 

New York, 2 d Oct' 1799. 
Sir: 

Inclosed is an extract from a letter I received from His E. 
H., the Duke of Kent, by the packet from Nova Scotia, 1 in 
which he advises me to apply to you on the Subject of procur- 
ing a Lieutenancy for my son De Lancey Barclay with as little 
delay as possible in order that he may the sooner have permis- 
sion to purchase a Company. To effect this as there is not 
a Lieut y in the Royal Fusiliers vacant at present, it is neces- 
sary my Son commences with the first step, that of an Ensign, 
and his R. H. points to one you have the disposal of at the 
regulation — he then proceeds to observe that Lieutenancys 
arc daily to be had on similar terms, and recommends me to 
apply to you in his name for your interest and good offices in 

1 The Duke of Kent had resided at Duke had at this time just returned 

Halifax as Commander of the Forces to Halifax after a short visit to Eng- 

I'roin 1794 to 1798, during all of which land. He was the father of the 

time Colonel Barclay was Speaker present Queen of England. 
of the Provincial Assembly. The 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 105 

favor of my son. The directions of his R. H. to me will, 
I trust, be a sufficient apology for my commencing thus ab- 
ruptly a correspondence, and requesting your assistance in 
effecting my wishes. 

At the commencement of the present war, and under the 
erroneous opinion that its continuance would be but of short 
duration, I was induced to put my Son De Lancey Barclay at 
the solicitation of Col. Sir John Wentworth into the Royal 
Nova Scotia Regiment, wherein he has served five years in the 
respective ranks of Ensign, Lieut., and Captain, Commanding 
the Grenadier Company upwards of a year on a detached Com- 
mand at Cape Breton. When he first entered the service it 
was not my intention he should continue it as a profession ; he, 
however, appears fond of it, and in compliance with his re- 
quest I now wish him in a regular old Reg'. He has entered 
his 20th year, is well grown, has had a liberal education, is a 
very handsome young man, and free from every vice or fash- 
ionable dissipation. 



FROM COX & GREENWOOD. 

Loudon, Gth. Feby, 1800. 
Sir: 

We have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your 
favor of the 2nd. Oct. to Mr. Greenwood respecting the Pur- 
chase of a Commission in the Army for your Son whom you 
are desirous of attaining the Rank of Captain for as soon as 
possible. 

In this we shall be particularly happy to forward your 
wishes when it can be done ; but you must be apprized that 
from the late Regulations of the Commander in Chief an 
Officer cannot be permitted to Purchase a Company until he 
shall have served two years as a Subaltern. 

There being an opportunity of purchasing an Ensigncy in 
the 41st. Regt. lately gone to Quebec we conceived it would 
be more agreeable to you to have your Son in one in America 
than any where else, especially as he goes into that Regiment 



10G CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

very advantageously there being other vacancies and we be- 
lieve he will be first or second for the Purchase of a Lieuty. 
when one falls vacant in the Regiment ; which is the only 
chance of his obtaining a Lieuty. as they are become now 
very scarce and difficult to be had. 

We have also the pleasure to acquaint you that the En- 
sigucy was purchased under the Regulation, having been got 
for 350 Guis. Ensign Barclay's Commission is Dated the 11 th 
January. 

It will be necessary for you to write to the Commanding 
Officer of the Regt. Lieut. Colonel Thomas, stating when 
Ensign Barclay will join. 

We have etc. 

Cox & Greenwood. 



TO HIS MAJESTY'S POSTMASTERS-GENERAL. 

New York Consul Generals Office 15 March 1800. 
My Lords: 

His Majesty s Packet Boats and Merchant Vessels having 
ever since my arrival at this place suffered great inconveni- 
ence and occasional delay in consequence of the desertion of 
their Men, and the impracticability of regaining them unless 
by the tedious and ordinary process at Common Law; in- 
duced me to represent the grievance to some of the leading 
members in the House of Representatives of this State, and 
to request them to procure a Law for the summary trial of 
deserting, or absenting Seamen; A measure founded in 
Justice and due to all Nations in alliance with the United 
Slates of America. 

I am happy to acquaint your Lordships that my application 
has succeeded and have the honor to inclose your Lordships a 
( razette containing the Act passed for that purpose. 

Your Lordships will observe from the words of the Act 
that the Agreement by the Seamen to perform a Voyage must 
be made in writing, I take the Liberty to suggest this, from 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 107 

the Captains of Pacquets having repeatedly informed me that 
it was not customary for seamen employed in that Service to 
sign Articles. Permit me to add it will advance his Majestys 
Service in these parts, to direct that the Seamen in future 
employed in the Pacquets shall on entering sign articles, and 
that the Articles of Agreement in future to be used be cor- 
rectly and explicitly drawn by a professional Gentleman. 



TO LORD GRENVILLE. 

New York 15 March 1800. 
My Lord: 

I have the satisfaction to acquaint your Lordship that I have 
through the intervention of some of the leading Characters in 
the house of Representatives of this State procured an act for 
the summary trial of Seamen deserting or absenting themselves 
from the Ships to whom they are articled to perform a voyage ; 
a copy of which act is inclosed. 

The grievance had become almost intolerable to His Majes- 
ty's Subjects and the Pacquet service in many instances de- 
layed. These Evils I had stated to M r Liston as well as your 
Lordship, and finding from him that it was improbable any 
immediate general remedy would be administered, I considered 
it advisable to effect, if in my power, a partial one confined to 
this State. I hope the measure will meet your Lordships 
approbation. 

By this conveyance I write His Majesty's Postmasters Gen- 
eral on the Subject, inclosing them the Act, and recommending 
the Seamen in that Service, being in future under Articles, to 
enable me to recover them in cases of desertion. 



TO MR. BROUGHTON. 

New York 6 th May 1800. 
Dear Sir: 

Your favors of the 24 & 31 of January I received by the 
Earl Gower Packet. The letters accompanying them addressed 



108 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

to persons in this City were immediately delivered, and those 
for Canada forwarded the first Conveyance. I am much 
obliged to you for the purchase of my two half Lottery tickets 
and your attention in forwarding the numbers ; pray favor me 
with their fate. 1 Will you do me the favor to send me a hand 
Bill of the Rates for Life Insurance and Endowment of Chil- 
dren at 21 years old. I will thank you to discontinue my Lon- 
don paper, as we generally have later European news by pri- 
vate Conveyances than by the Packets. Instead of these send 
me the An ti jacobin Reviews and any political Pamphlets of 
merit from time to time published. 



TO LORD GRENVILLE. 

New York 7 tL May 1800. 
My Lord: 

I did myself the Honor of writing your Lordship by the last 
Packet on the Subject of an Act of the Legislature of this 
State ; a printed copy of which I took the Liberty to inclose to 
your Lordship. 

It is with no small degree of disappointment that I am un- 
der the necessity of acquainting your Lordship that I was pre- 
mature in the Communication, and that the Bill after having 
passed the house of Representatives and Senate of this State, 
was rejected by the Council of Revision. Permit me, however, 
in my own Justification, to remark that previous to the meet- 
ing of the Legislature I had recommended the Bill to two or 
three of the leading members who promised to bring it for- 
ward, and that I not only had the public prints of this City as 
the Channel of information that the Bill had passed, but also 
the Mayor of the City who read me an extract from M r Rigg's 
letter (a member of the Legislature) wherein he desired the 
Mayor to congratulate me on the subject. With such testi- 

1 Barclay was constantly buying clay, of Bury Hill. These ventures 
State lottery tickol s in London either seem to have been uniformly unsuc- 
throughMr. Broughton or David Bar- cessful. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 109 

mony, I considered it a matter beyond all doubt, and accord- 
ingly gave it to your Lordship, as I was convinced it would 
afford you Satisfaction. 

The Bill was rejected by the Council of Revision upon a prin- 
ciple that it was a commercial regulation which appertained 
to the Congress of the United States. At the next meeting of 
Congress I shall endeavor to get an Act of this kind passed. 



TO MRS. MARGARET DE LANCEY, 1 BATH, ENGLAND. 

New York 8 th Nov' 1800. 
My dear Madam: 

I wrote you a hasty line by the Lady Arabella Packet, be- 
ing at that time very unwell with an intermitting fever, from 
which I am now happily recovered, though much reduced. 
In that letter I acknowledged the receipt of your favor cover- 
ing the letter of Attorney, and my readiness to render you 
any Service in my power. I at the same time Stated to you 
my having retained M r Harison 2 as your Council, and ac- 
quainted you that M r Hoffman being the Attorney General of 
this State rendered it improper for him to act for you. I 
took the liberty at the same time to give you my opinion re- 

l Margaret De Lancey was the wid- of course, became entitled to dower 

ow of the James De Lancey who was in all the lands sold. 
Agent of the American Loyalists in 2 Richard Harison was born in 

England. She was the daughter of New-York, January 23, 1748, and 

Chief Justice William Allen of died in the same city, December 7, 

Pennsylvania, the friend of Ben- 1829. He was graduated from 

jamin West and Benjamin Frank- Kings College in 17G4. He married 

liu. James De Lancey died at Bath, first, Catharine, daughter of Dr. 

1799. He had been attainted by Jones of Long Island ; second, Pran- 

the Act of 1779, and his property in ces, daughter of George Duncan 

the city of New-York had been sold Ludlow, one of the Judges of the 

at various times prior to February, Supreme Court of the Province of 

1787. A full account of these sales New-York, and afterward the first 

will be found in Mr. E. F. De Lan- Chief Justice of New Brunswick, 

cey's notes to Jones's Hist, of N.Y., Harison was inclined to the Tory 

Vol. II, pp. 540-559. His widow, side, but in 1789 he was chosen one 



110 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

specting the mode of obtaining your dower or compensation 
in lieu of it; and M r Harisons opinion on the same subject. 
I shall repeat these, least by an accident to the Lady Arabella 
you may be deprived of my former letter. 

Having fully considered your claim of dower, — the very 
great number of Tenants of the freehold who must be sued — 
the probable delay before you will be put in possession. The 
forcible reasons why the Major part of the Proprietors will 
prefer your having the actual possession of one third of the 
Lots and houses. The enormous expense attending a litiga- 
tion, where there will probably be not less than three or four 
hundred Suits, your own costs of which, you must defray. 
The immense number of vacant lots, which altho' they are 
valued at about £100 this Currency each, do not, nor would 
they at any future period in your hands, produce any annual 
rent. The precarious tenor of life — The loss your Children 
would sustain by your dying at the earliest within fifteen 
years. The length of time it would require to make the rents 
issues and profits of your third part of this Estate, after de- 
ducting six hundred per annum as Interest for the Capital, 
net you a clear principal of £10,000 this Currency. The im- 
possibility of your renting unimproved lots and parts of Lots, 
from the uncertainty of your Life — The difficulty of obtain- 
ing tenants, to occupy a third part of a house, containing not 
more than two small rooms on each floor and those houses 
generally not more than two Stories. The defalcations in 
rents, where Tenants are poor and the expense of employing 

of the delegates from the city of reported in the early New-York re- 

New-York to the Poughkeepsie ports. Upon the organization of 

Convention that ratified the Fed- the Federal Government he was 

era] Constitution, his colleagues appointed by General Washington 

being John Jay, Richard Morris. U. S. District Attorney. From 

John Sloss Bobart, Alexander Ham- 1798 to 1799 he was Recorder of the 

ilton, Robert R. Livingston, Isaac city. For forty-one years — 1788 to 

Roosevelt, James Duane, and Nicho- 1829 — he was one of the Trustees 

las Low. He was for many years of Columbia College, and in 1823 

one of the leaders of the New-York was Chairman of the Board. He 

bar, and counsel in a huge propor- also held the office of Comptroller 

tion of the more important cases of the Trinity Church Corporation. 



CONSUL-GENERAL. 1799-1- - 111 

an Agent to take care of the Property and receive the rents — 
With numberless other serious objections; I say after having 
maturely weighed all these, it was my decided opinion that 
you had better take up with a compensation from the State 
of New York, attended with but little expense and which you 
would almost immediately receive, than to involve yourself in 
Litigation, and place a very handsome Sum on the casual 
Event of your Life admitting, as I consider it. t ual to 

that of any other person for fifteen years to come. It would 
take up too much time, and tire your patience was I to give 
you at length my reasons, on each of the objections men- 
tioned. I shall therefore only say they are admitted as 
natural by 3I r Harison. 

A combination or conspiracy very probably may also lie 
entered into by the Proprietors to dissuade persons from be- 
coming your Tenants, and to threaten them with innumerable 
unpleasant incidents in case they do it. Their side of the 
Question, however equitable yours may lie. will lie the popu- 
lar one: in a Country where the Claims of Loyalty are con- 
sidered by the vulgar as usurpation. 

You may perhaps think I write in strong terms, and that 
my apprehensions are unreasonable. The greater part of 
what I have stated will inevitably come to pass, and the 
remainder is founded on probabilities approaching to cer- 
tainties. I have measured all these on the Scale of your 
Interest, and by opposing the one to the other, have no hesi- 
tation in saying, that a Sum far short of what might fairly 
be calculated from the rents of the Estate, admitting solvent 
tenants could be procured, will be preferable to the uncertain 
amount you will receive in consequence of being unable to 
obtain tenants, and the losses incurred by many of them being 
unable to pay their rents — With regard to lots on which there 
are no buildings it will be difficult to find Persons who would 
even be at the expense of inclosing them, when they know 
their po>ses-i'.>n depends on your life. Was the property 
situate in a valuable part of the City and vested in decent 
houses, the annual rents might be calculated to almost a frac- 
tion — But vour lots are in the Suburbs, which mav be said 



112 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

to be half town half Country. 1 It is impossible to say what 
the State may allow you : but at the lowest valuation I should 
suppose not less than 25,000 Dollars, and possibly more than 
double thai Sura. On this occasion I should strive to get the 
most for you. But every thing considered I really think 
even 25,000 dollars in hand, better than a general litigation. 

M r Harison differs in Sentiment with me; and thinks you 
will advance your interest by applying to or prosecuting the 
individual Proprietors. Having his opinion and mine, it re- 
mains for you to decide and to send me your orders without 
loss of time, providing duplicates and triplicates of letters. 

If we are to prosecute it will be indispensibly necessary for 
you to send me out all the Title deeds for any part of the Es- 
tate, not only in the Bowery, but in broadway opposite the 
Estate M r DeLancey gave to his brother John. 2 I think there- 
was also property in other parts of the State. Let regular 
and correct copies of them be made and taken to the Lord 
Mayor of London to examine and certify, and leave them with 
him until the Event is known, whether the originals have 
come safe to my hands or not. Should a treaty of Peace be 
entered into between the States and France, it will be most 
safe to send the papers out in some good safe American Ship, 
delivered to a Gentleman Passenger, or to the Master, if a de- 
cent Man. It may be necessary also to prove M r DeLancey's 
death. Furnish me, therefore, with the name of the Parson who 
can attest to his person and demise. It will be best to have 
this testimony also taken by the Lord Mayor of London. In- 
form me if the Witness can attend before him. Proof of your 
Marriage will be required and of your being alive at the time 
that proof was taken. Was your Brother, M r Andrew Allen, 
present at your marriage, or who was. 

I have employed Beverly Robinson, Grandson of the late 
Col. Robinson, a young Gentleman of merit and abilities, rec- 

1 They lay east of the Bowery, 2 These lots were at the corner of 

between Division and Stanton Broadway and Little Queen (Cedar) 

streets, in what is now perhaps street. Brother John was John 

the most densely populated spot Peter De Lancey, of Mamaroneek, 

in the world. father of the Bishop. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 113 

ommended to me by M r Harison as your Attorney. And I 
think it will be most for your Interest to engage M r Cadwal- 
lader Golden, the Assistant Attorney General of the district, 1 
as Council with M r Harison, he having prosecuted several 
claims for dower and compounded to great advantage with the 
State. He informs me of what M r Harison was ignorant, that 
the State will agree in settling of the Sum to be paid j^ou, to 
my nominating two; and the Commissioners, one Appraiser, 
who will value the property at what it is at present worth ; 
from whence, after making a small deduction of ten or at the 
utmost fifteen per Cent., they will calculate the Sum total by 
the London tables on Lives and allow you whatever sum these 
tables direct. M r Harison told me the Commissioners would 
only take the Sum for which the Estate sold, which was about 
£100,000 this Currency. Now I suppose the Estate fairly 
valued could not come short of £500,000 ; of course your com- 
pensation, allowing the Commissioners deducted even a fifth, 
would be far above what I have stated it. 



TO MR. HARTSHORNE, HALIFAX. 

New York 5 ,h Dec r 1800. 

My dear Hartshorne: 

I am at this moment favored with your most kind letter of 
the 11 th of November and shall reply to the latter part without 
delay in the hope of getting it on board a vessel bound for St. 
John, New Brunswick, being more than anxious to remove 
from Sir John Wentworth's mind any unfavorable suggestions 
which must tend to lessen me in his good opinion. 

You are no stranger to my Sentiments with regard to Sir 
John, or of the grateful Sense I entertain of his uniform 
friendly behavior towards me and of the many essential favors 

1 Cadwallader D. Colden, a grand- Barclay's. He was at this time As- 
son of the old Lieutenant-Governor, sistant District Attorney of theU. S., 
and therefore a first cousin of Mrs. and was afterward Mayor of the city. 



114 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

received at his hands. I will therefore thank you candidly to 
declare what I have repeatedly remarked in confidence to you 
respecting him and the obligation I felt myself under for his 
marked predilection towards me. I am satisfied I have always 
been regarded by him as a confidential friend, and I have the 
satisfaction to feel that my conduct has generally met his ap- 
probation, and that in no one instance have I ever behaved to 
him or any other Man living with duplicity. He possesses my 
utmost regards, and there is no person to whom I should more 
readily apply for advice had I an object in contemplation ; in- 
deed. 1 consider myself in some measure bound to do so, hav- 
ing on former occasions consulted him, and always obtained 
his ready aid and interest. From these remarks it is scarce 
necessary for me to contradict the report mentioned at the foot 
of your letter, to wit, " that I was trying to obtain the Govern- 
ment of Kara Scotia." Accept my thanks for the reply you 
made the Governor when he mentioned the report. You will, I 
hope, continue your friendship in contradicting on any future 
occasion suggestions tending to my injury until you have 
reason to alter your opinion of me. 

I have never made any application directly or indirectly for 
the Government or the reversion of it in case of Sir Johns re- 
moval or demise. Neither have I in writing or verbally ex- 
pressed a wish or sentiment on the Subject to any person. Had 
such a measure been contemplated you would have been the 
most probable person to whom I should have communicated 
my Sentiments. This report is similar to that you mentioned 
to me last Winter respecting the Government of New Bruns- 
wick. I received on that subject not less than twenty letters, 
several of which were congratulatory of the appointment hav- 
ing taken place, and I have little doubt but Governor Carleton 
imagines that I really did apply. Many of my friends, and some 
of the first consideration in Nova Scotia and in England have 
in their letters lamented my leaving Nova Scotia, and hinted 
that they hoped yet to see me filling an office of responsibility in 
that Province. I had no doubt they meant the Government ; 
still, so little did I think of it, that I have in no one instance 
ever noticed the latter part of their remarks. It is not impos- 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 115 

sible but they or some other persons may have written that on 
the demise of Sir John it was probable I would succeed to 
the Government, and from such an hint, it may have grown 
into a confirmed report of my soliciting for it. Assure Sir 
John he will ever find me to be his zealous friend, incapable of 
doing an act incompatible with honor or candor. That it 
would be doing violence to my feelings to accept of any ap- 
pointment at the expense even of a stranger; and of course 
that I am incapable of soliciting the removal of any person 
from office to make way for myself. If these are my prin- 
ciples, judging of my affection by that he bears to me, he will 
be readily satisfied that the report was without foundation. 



TO LORD GRENVILLE. 

New York 5 Dec r . 1800. 
My Lord: 

I have the Honor to inclose your Lordship Quarterly returns 
of the Imports and Exports to and from this Port from the 
first of September to the 30 Ul of November last past. 

It may perhaps not be disagreeable to your Lordship to be 
informed that it is more than probable M r Adams and M r Pinck- 
ney will be elected President and Vice President of the United 
States. Which of the two will, by having the Majority of 
Votes be President is uncertain, I however suspect M r Adams 
will be reelected. 



TO MR. BOND. 

New York 29 th Dec r 1S00. 
Dear Sir : 

Vice Admiral Sir W m Parker commanding his Majesty s 
Ships in America has written to me that an armed Ship named 
the Faustina which sailed from New York some time in April 
last, had on a former Voyage captured and destroyed certain 
Merchant Vessels belonging to His Majesty Subjects, that he 



116 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

was apprehensive she would commit similar depredations dur- 
ing her present Voyage — That she has long been engaged in 
a contraband trade with His Majestys Enemies; and that tho' 
she is well adapted to all the purposes of Commerce, she is in 
every respect equipped for War ; and on meeting with British 
Vessels regulates her Conduct by the Force they display, by 
hoisting the Colours of the United States of America in the 
presence of our Ships of "War or armed Vessels of superior or 
equal force and those of Spain when she meets Merchant Ves- 
sels or small Privateers and acts as such — He wishes to know 
the real Character and Pursuits of this Ship, particularly the 
object and destination of her present Voyage. — From the best 
information that I can obtain in this place, from public and pri- 
vate Channels, a ship of the name of Faustina has not cleared 
out from this Port during the present year; nor can I discover 
that there is a ship of that name owned in this State. A 
Spanish armed ship named the Astiganaga or Aristazaraga 
sailed from hence in April last (nominally) to Montevideo in 
la Plata, but as was generally suspected to cruize on the Coast 
of Africa for some time for British Vessels. — I am of opinion 
this is the same Ship the Admiral enquires after, and it is pos- 
sible she may have a false set of papers, purporting her to be 
an American Ship named the Faustina. — Should this be the 
case I can give the Admiral the best information existing here 
respecting her, and he will be ennabled to judge whether it is 
the same vessel, by the list of British ships she captured on 
her leaving this and previous to her departure from the Coasts 
of the United States — 

Least however I may be mistaken in my conjectures, permit 
me to request you will make enquiry at Philadelphia, if there 
is a ship of that name belonging to that Port, or if any ship 
of that name has cleared out from thence answering the above 
description, also the owners name, her pursuits and present 
destination — where she is now supposed to be, and the earliest 
probable period of her return. 

It is unnecessary for me to add that the utmost caution and 
secrecy are necessary in investigations of this nature, where 
the fears and suspicions not only of the owners, but the un- 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 117 

dervvriters are all alive from the sailing of each ship until her 
safe return into port — Should it be necessary to expend a 
small Sum to effect the above purposes I will readily pay it, 
as I can have no doubt but the Admiral will readily repay the 
same. 



FROM DE LANCEY BARCLAY. 

Montreal 26th, January, 1801. 
My dear Mamma : 

I cannot let another opportunity pass without writing to my 
best of Mothers. A description of my very disagreeable and 
tedious Journey here you undoubtedly have seen in my letters 
to my dear Papa. I asure you the cake you or my dear 
Maria put in my Portmanteau was very acceptable to me and 
my fellow travellers the night I spent in the woods ; it is im- 
possible for me to express my feelings while I was eating it ; 
gratitude, with my dear Parents &c. &c. occupied my mind, 
and thinking how unhappy you would have been had you 
known my situation, while I was only a little uncomfortable. 
I am living at Sir Johns which Lady Johnson has insisted on 
I shall make my home, she has frequently told me the time she 
spent at West Chester with you was the happiest part of her 
life, she made me a present of three black martins for a Cap 
which I suppose would have cost me a Guinea a piece ; I re- 
ceive the greatest attention both from her and Sir John. 1 I 
am sorry to say Lady Johuson intends going home in the 
spring I am sure she will be much missed in this place You 
know not how anxious I am to hear from you as I have had 
that pleasure but once since I left New-York. Remember me 

1 Sir John Johnson was at this time by Judge Jones in his history of 

Superintendent of Indian Affairs New- York, Vol. I, pp. 74-81; and 

in British North America. Lady further details are given in Mr. De 

Johnson was formerly Mary Watts, Lancey's notes. When released she 

sister to John Watts of New-York, selected Barclay's house at the Wal- 

Lady Johnson's arrest and detention kill as her residence. See Journals 

in 1776 by the American authorities, Prov. Con., Vol. I, p. 761. 
as a hostage, is vigorously related 

8A 



118 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

to my dear Brothers and sisters, with my aunts Cox and 
Watts, and all other friends, with Griser and other servants, 
and believe me my dear Mamma your very sincere and affec- 
tionate son 

D. Barclay. 

My dear Papa: 

Although I have little or nothing to say having wrote you 
not long since I should feel unpleasant did I let a conveyance 
slip without a line to my dear Father I have not yet been 
able to obtain a french master, though in the mean time I 
think I am losin nothin while I am making myself master 
of the Grammar, and writing french, and frequently having 
an opportunity of speaking it. It is now after two o'clock 
therefore I shall bid you good morning and retire to my bed, 
as I rise at six. I shall write you again by the first good op- 
portunity. Believe me ever your very sincere and affectionate 
Son 

D. Barclay. 

Should the gentleman who takes charge of this and with 
whom I dined a few days since whose name is Mr. Leith come 
to New York (of which he is not certain) and call on you I 
will thank you to pay him some attention, not to put yourself 
out of the way, should you have a party while he is there in- 
vite him — he is in the fir trade. 



TO LORD GRENVILLE. 

New York 12 th March 1801. 
My Lord: 

I have the Honor to inform your Lordship that the Presi- 
dent of the Chamber of Commerce of Philadelphia a few 
Weeks since, wrote an official letter to the New York Cham- 
ber of Commerce wherein after remarking the immense num- 
ber of american Ships captured by His Majestys Ships of 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 119 

War, he acquainted the New York Chamber of Commerce of 
the determination of the Philadelphia Merchants, to petition 
the President of the United States to grant in future convoys 
under certain regulations to merchants ships that their pro- 
perty might be secured against British depredations. 1 The 
chamber of Commerce of this place have not co operated with 
the Philadelphiaus under a conviction that their proceedings 
were too high toned and that it was probable the President of 
the United States might remedy the evil complained of by a 
more conciliatory line of Conduct. They have therefore re- 
ported to the President the Captures of Ships from this Port 
by British Ships, and subjoined the facts respecting each in- 
dividual Ship leaving the President to adopt such measures as 
he conceived would best remedy the evil. — M r Bond His Ma- 
jesty s Consul General at Philadelphia will probably furnish 
your Lordship with the particulars of the proceedings at Phil- 
adelphia. I have not yet learned whether any thing has been 
done to the Eastward : but consider it certain that application 
equally violent with that from Pennsylvania will be made by 
the Merchants of Baltimore, Virginia and the Carolinas. I 
am happy to inform your Lordship that the respectable part 
of the Mercantile Interest in this City are federal and warmly 
attached to G Britain ; and that altho' few of these Charac- 
ters ordinarily attend the meetings of the Chamber of Com- 
merce ; I had influence sufficient to procure their attendance 
on this occasion, and to them and a few others, the lenient 
measures adopted are to be attributed. I intreat your Lord- 
ship will pardon me for obtruding this unsolicited, but zeal 
for His Majestys Service compels me in this instance to break 
through all rule ; under an impression that it is probable your 
Lordship may be ignorant of what the Americans, with I fear 
some justice, complain of. — There are few if any instances of 
captures in Europe, or decrees in the Courts of admiralty in 
Great Britain that are considered otherwise than equitable 

1 In American State Papers, For. ber of Commerce, to the Secretary 

Rel., Vol. II, p. 347, will be found a of the Navy, dated Feb. 17, 1801, 

letter from Thomas Fitzsimmons, which is evidently the "petition" 

Chairman of the Philadelphia Cham- referred to. 



120 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

and fair by the Americans; and I have scarce ever heard our 
Courts in England spoken of by them except in terms of the 
highest respect. — But the cry is universal from one end of 
the Continent to the other that the Cruizers in America and 
the West Indies send every American Vessel they meet, into 
one of his Majestys Colonial Ports for adjudication and that 
the Judges of the Provincial Courts of Vice Admiralty too 
generally condemn, and in cases where an acquital would 
have been decreed in England. To appeal they remark is so 
nearly allied in its consequences to a total loss, that it is not 
worth the pursuit. First from the length of time that elapses 
before a decision takes place — and secondly the immense ex- 
pense attending appeals. — I am satisfied my Lord that not a 
little of Enemies property is covered by the Americans and 
that articles contraband of War are frequently exported from 
the States : but I am equally certain that bona fide American 
property is too often improperly condemned in the Provincial 
Courts of Admiralty. From hence it is that the Americans 
feel injured, and unless a remedy is applied, I fear we shall 
not long continue on a friendly footing with them. — The 
Eastern States are at the present moment more firmly at- 
tached to G Britain than at any period since the year 1783, 
and would be perfectly satisfied if the least alteration was 
made by Government for the protection of lawful American 
Property from capture and condemnation. — What I have 
stated to your Lordship is in perfect confidence and I hope 
will not be considered by your Lordship out of place. Permit 
me to intreat that my name may not be made known as the 
author of this communication. 1 

1 The subject treated of in this let- other British Colonies. The irregu- 

ter had already engaged the atten- larities which had prevailed in these 

tion of the Ministry. By a letter Courts had long given occasion for 

from Lord Grenville, dated January complaint; and the Government 

22, 1801, the King directed the Lords "thought proper, by lessening their 

Commissioners of the Admiralty to number, by extending their jurisdic- 

revoke all the prize commissions tion, and by increasing the salaries 

which had theretofore been granted of the judges, to give them greater 

to the numerous Vice Admiralty consequence and dignity, and to in- 

Courts in the West Indies and in duce gentlemen acquainted with the 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 121 

TO MRS. MARGARET DE LANCEY. 

New York 3 d May 1801. 
My dear Madam — 

Your favor of the 15 th of Dec r and 26 th of January I have 
had the satisfaction to receive ; and had flattered myself that 
it would before this have been in my power to have given you 
the pleasing information of the settlement of your dower with 
the State of New York. For which purpose, as I informed 
you last Autumn, it was necessary to have an accurate list 
and valuation of each lot, by appraisors, appointed by the 
Commissioners of this State — Through M r Cadwallader Col- 
den your Attorney for this purpose, I therefore presented the 
Commissioners with twelve respectable names and desired to 
nominate three out of that number — They directed the first 
three to be taken ; who with great attention and industry, 
aided by Stanton & a Surveyor, completed the return in Feb- 
ruary last ; the total value of the Estate, computed at 004,707 
dollars & the annual value thereof at 30,831. — With these 
documents and a petition drawn up by me in your name M 1 
Colden proceeded immediately to Albany, and laid them be- 
fore the Commissioners — The Legislature of the State was 
then sitting in that City. The Commissioners having ex- 
amined the valuation, made by Gorman, Russel & Carmer the 
appraisers, were of opinion, that it was an equitable appraise- 
ment ; but as your demand amounted to a Sum infinitely be- 
yond what had ever come before them, they considered it their 
duty, altho vested with full powers to purchase your release 
of dower, to report the facts to the Legislature, and to pray 

law, and the practice of the Courts another £2000 a year. Martinique 

in England, and particularly some having been given up by the Treaty 

of the advocates of the civil law, to of Amiens, a Vice-Admiralty Court 

accept of these judicial offices." Ac- was established at Barbadoes. See 

cordingly by an act of Parliament Introduction to Stewart's Adm. Re- 

(41 Geo. Ill, Chap. 96) courts were ports. Americau public opinion was 

established at Halifax, Jamaica and no better satisfied with the decisions 

Martinique only, and salaries were of the new courts than with those of 

authorized to be paid of £2000, their predecessors, 
besides perquisites not to exceed 



122 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

their orders thereon — A committee was appointed to take the 
same into consideration and report. M r Colden attended them 
aud they some days after made a private report, which I un- 
derstand from good Authority amounted to this — That the 
appraisement was consistent and rather under than above the 
value of the Estate — Yet that it would be improper for 
the House of Assembly to sanction the Commissioners in pay- 
ing so large an amount as you would be entitled to, on the 
Scale used on former occasions by the Commissioners ; for if 
they allowed you an annuity during your life, it could not be 
less than 8000 dollars per Annum and if a sum in gross it 
would amount to near 80,000 dollars. — Such compensations to 
Widows of Loyalists, they imagined would make no little noise 
in the State and prove injurious to their political Interest — 
They therefore recommended that the Commissioners should 
not for the present offer you any compensation but that M r 
Hoffman the Attorney General, be directed to defend every 
suit commenced for the recovery of your dower, create every 
possible delay, and endeavour so to perplex and exhaust your 
patience, as to induce you to a second application, and then 
that the Commissioners might pay you 30,000 dollars for your 
release in full — I relate the above in confidence and intreat 
you will not let it be known, as it might injure me — 

Under these circumstances we have now no alternative but 
to commence Suits — In this, I shall use every possible discre- 
tion ; for if the Court should determine, that you are to pay 
your own Costs, which I fear will be the Case, a large propor- 
tion of the property will not be worth suing for — I mean 
vacant lots, and those whereon small tenements are erected. — 
At the same time, it will be necessary to sue all the Tenants 
of the Freehold, who possess property to any amount, and to 
hurry on these suits, in order to render them anxious on their 
own account, and compel them in turn to become Petitioners 
to the Legislature during their Session in February next — If 
we can effect this we shall turn the tables on them and obtain 
a better compensation. — Of this rest assured that I shall act 
for you as if the stake was my own, and that neither at- 
tention or industry shall be wanting on my part — By the ad- 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 123 

vice of M r Harison I have retained General Hamilton the 
ablest Council in this place to assist him and in July next, it 
is more than probable that your claim to the property in 
Broadway will be brought to a decision. 

In the mean time I intreat that by the earliest good Ameri- 
can conveyance you forward me, every paper relative to the 
Estate of your deceased husband, for property in the city, or 
elsewhere — The wild lands you mention, have probably been 
sold by the State, are now under cultivation and worthy your 
attention — Send me also the affidavits recpiested by M r 
Golden — 

It was stated in the house of Assembly that M r De Lancey 
had given long leases for a part of this Estate, and that you 
had joined in these Leases — Also that he and you had con- 
veyed Mount Pit to Judge Jones 1 — Pray answer me particu- 
larly as to these suggestions — Stanton tells me M r De Lancey 
had repeatedly said to him, that as M r Jones had not any Chil- 
dren, he did not intend to give him a deed for the property — 



TO LOED HAWKESBUEY." 

New York 12 May 1801. 

(Private.) 
My Lord 

I consider it my duty to acquaint your Lordship that it is 
generally reported in these States, and I suspect not without 
truth, that the Government of the United States are resolved 
to refuse complying with the increased demands of the Dey of 
Tripoli ; in consecpience of which it is supposed the Tripolitan 
Ships will have orders to capture all American Vessels. — To 
protect the American Commerce in the Mediterranean it is 

i" Mount Pitt" was the town 2 Lord Hawkesbury had been ap- 

house of Judge Thomas Jones, the pointed to the Foreign Office Feb- 

Tory historian of New-York. It lay ruary 20, 1801, on the formation of 

not far from Corlear's Hook on the Mr. Addington's Ministry. He is 

East River. Mrs. Jones was Anne better known by his later title of 

De Lancey, a sister of James. Lord Liverpool. 



124 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

said that a Squadron of five Frigates and two Cutters are to 
be sent to cruise in those seas, with orders to act defensively 
only for the present. — The Ships are to rendezvous in the 
Chesapeak without loss of time, and will probably sail in a 
month from this. 

I subjoin the names and force of the Ships to be employed 
on this Service 

Guns 

United States 44 

Constitution 44 

President 44 

Congress 3G 

Essex 32 



TO LORD HAWKESBURY. 

New York 5 th June 1801. 
My Lord — 

Complaint has been made to me that two officers who served 
in the Provincial Corps during the Am" War and who are now 
in the receipt of half pay, have taken the oaths of allegiance 
to the United States of America, and in that oath in positive 
terms and by name, abjured our most gracious Sovereign. — 
Gabriel V Ludlow Ensine in Brig r General De Lanccys Bri- 
gade — and a M r Thomas Carpenter, at present of Saratoga in 
Hi is State, but to what Provincial Corps he belonged I cannot 
learn ; are the persons who have taken these oaths. 

It is not for me to make any remark on the Conduct of 
these persons, or to observe that prudence dictates that the 
allowance of half pay, should be with held from Characters of 
the above description ; but it is a lamentable fact that there 
are at this moment a great number of half pay officers, who 
have become subjects of the United States; and many of them 
violent in their principals and Conduct in opposition to His 
majesty and the interest of the united Kingdom — 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 125 

TO VICE-ADMIRAL PARKER. 

New York 8th June 1801. 
Sir: 

The inclosed letter will give you in substance the latest ac- 
counts that I have received from Virginia respecting His Ma- 
jesty's ship the Boston and the french Frigate the Seraillante. 
By a schooner that left Hampton roads on Tuesday last, I am 
informed that the American Squadron and the Semillante lay 
there apparently ready for Sea. Should the Semillante wait 
the sailing of the American ships, it is probable she will not 
be out in some days. Captain Douglas has almost a daily 
communication with Col. Hamilton the Consul at Norfolk. 

Monsieur Pichon charge des affaires from the french repub- 
lic to these States called on me a few days since on the subject 
of a flag of truce, which he wished and I had declined. In 
that conversation I drew from him that he had sent sixty peo- 
ple of colour who had been prisoners to the Americans to Bos- 
ton to assist in manning the Berceau. These men have gone 
most reluctantly and although exchanged were kept in Gaol 
until embarked for Boston. I suspect the Berceau has sailed 
by this — her destination I have not been able to ascertain. 1 
The news from Egypt is the more pleasing, as it contradicts 
the french reports.' 2 

TO VICE-ADMIRAL PARKER. 

New York 24 June, 1801. 
Sir 

I have the honor to inform you that early this morning the 
French armed Brig the Mutine of 16 Guns, with an armed 

1 The Berceau was a French cor- vessel was built at Boston in 1799, 
vette captured in November, 1800, and came to an ignominious end in 
by tlie U. S. Ship Boston. She was 1814, being burned at the Washing- 
restored to the French Government ton Navy Yard to avoid falling into 
in accordance with the third article English hands. 

of the Convention of September 30, 2 The "news from Egypt" was 

1800. The U. S. S. Boston is not to be Aberci-omby's victory at Alexan- 

confouuded with the British frigate dria, March 21, 1801. 
of the same name. The American 



12G CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

Merchant Ship of ten Guns from Cayenne came to an anchor 
aboul four miles below this City. I have not yet been able to 
learn precisely their object or destination, a confidential per- 
son was on board both of them last Evng on entering the 
Hook, but as he did not speak french, and found only one man 
on board the Brig who could speak English, he obtained but 
lit t Le information. It appears that the Ship has a number of 
exiles from France on board who had permission to leave Cay- 
enne, but I have not yet ascertained whether they are to go to 
France or settle in America. On Board the Mutine the men 
and officers were very inquisitive to learn whether there were 
many British Ships in Port, how many had lately sailed, and 
if there were any nearly ready for Sea — 

I have sent back the person above mentioned, with another 
equally trust worthy who speaks f rench ; but as it is uncertain 
whether they will return in time for the New Brunswick Ves- 
sel, which leaves this in an hour or two, I have determined to 
forward this imperfect Statement. About two hours after the 
above vessels came to au anchor, His Majestys armed Brig the 
Serpent commanded by L* Dwire came up to Town. He in- 
forms me that he was ordered on a Cruize by Admiral Duck- 
worth with orders to proceed as far as 35 North Latitude and 
if possible speak one of the Ships belonging to your Squadron, 
to inform you that on the 23 of May two french Frigates of 48 
& 44 Guns had got in to Guadeloupe from France. Near that 
Island they were met with by His Majestys Ship the Androm- 
acke who exchanged a few broadsides with both of them, 
but the french frigates avoided the action and got into Point 
Petre. — That the Admiral was suspicious they would en- 
deavour to get out, and probably come on this coast. L* Dwire 
adds that there is a chain of Privateers from Guadeloupe ex- 
tending from Longitude 60 to Newfoundland — That one of 
these had captured the Duke of Kent Merchant Man ladened 
with fish, which he recaptured in sight of Guadeloupe — L* 
Dwire put in to this place in distress, having sprung a leak 
ami making so much water as not to be able to keep his ship 
free with one pump — The Carpenters go on board the Ser- 
pent early in the morning and I hope in two or three days she 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 127 

will be ready for sea. — I am very apprehensive L l Dwire will 
lose many of his men — He however thinks otherwise, as they 
have been some time on board the Brig:, and have upwards of 
£80 per man due them for prize money. — In case the Mutine 
attempts to put to Sea while the Serpent remains here, I will 
procure him as many volunteers as he needs to pursue her — 
The Serpent he assures me sails remarkably well, and he as- 
sures me he is equal to both these ships — He passed in com- 
ing up within half a cables length of both of them, and tells 
me the Mutine has very long six pounders, so that they must 
be loaded out side — On Saturday the Berceau was still at 
Boston ready for sea. She has shipped 50 American Seamen, 
discharged from the Am" Frigate the Constitution, at 200 dol- 
lars per man for the run to France — This is correct, should 
she therefore fall into our possession you will of course take 
care of these men amongst whom it is to be feared you will 
find British Seamen — Accept my best thanks for your polite 
and friendly answer respecting my Son on board the Boston, and 
for your assent that M r Izard my nephew may join the Boston 
until you have a proper ship whereon to hoist your flag. 1 

I intreat you to pardon this hasty letter, written under 
great distress of mind, my dear little infant being dangerously 
ill — 



TO MK. THORNTON." 

New York 30th June 1801. 
Sir — 

I am this moment honored with your letters of the 27 & 28 
Current, the former accompanied with copies of regulations es- 

1 "My son " was Thomas Barclay in the British service. Perhaps this 
the younger, then a midshipman is Ralph Izard, Jr., of the U. S. Navy, 
aboard H. M. S. Boston. "Mr. Izard who distinguished himself three or 
my nephew " was a son of Ralph four years later at Tripoli. 
Izard of South Carolina, whose wife 2 Thornton was at this time in 
was Alice De Lancey, a sister of charge of the British Legation in 
Mrs. Barclay's. Young Izard must Washington, Mr. Liston having re- 
have been a guest of the Admiral's, turned to England about a year 
for none of Ralph Izard's sons were before. 



128 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

tablished by the American Government in 1794 & 1795, to 
which particular attention shall be paid — I received about a 
fortnight since from M r Maston of Wilmington, Delaware, who 
arrived at Boston from Halifax Nova Scotia information that 
the British Vessel he was in, had been chased and fired upon 
near Cape Cod, by a small french privateer Schooner — on his 
arrival at Boston and making mention of the Circumstance, it 
was generally supposed she was the Borguine, Dallas Master, 
who had entered and cleared as a Merchant Vessel and after 
leaving Boston, mounted Guns, concealed in her hold — I 
learn from a Captain Stewart, a few days since from the Bay of 
Fundy, that close in with Marthas Vineyard, he was hailed and 
spoken to by a stout armed french Brig; and which from dates 
could not be the Mutine now in this Port — of all these cir- 
cumstances, I have informed Admiral Parker, by two Convey- 
ances the last of which sailed on Sunday — I have likewise 
made him acquainted with the freneh armed Vessels being in 
t his Port, and what Admiral Duckworth, directed Lieut Dwyer 
to communicate to the Commanders of any of the Ships ap- 
pertaining to the Halifax Station — 

I have not seen L* Dwyer, since the day of his arrival owing 
to the distressed situation of my dear infant, who lay in Con- 
vulsions from Thursday until Sunday, when it expired 1 — I 
however not only urged him to hasten her being ready for Sea, 
but desired M 1 ' Shanyon, who superintends the repairs to fur- 
nish as many Carpenters, as could work to advantage. — I shall 
see him in a day or two, and if necessary press his stay, if 
consistent with his instructions — 



TO LORD HAWKESBURY. 

New York, 8 July 1801. 

My Lord, 

A Dumber of national french armed vessels and some priva- 
teers have within the last six weeks made their appearance on 
the American coasts and I am very apprehensive will injure 

1 Cornelia, bom May 23, died June 28, 1801. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 129 

the British trade, not only to these States, but His Majesty's 
colonies on the Continent. The Halifax Squadron under Vice 
Adm! Sir W™ Parker is very weak, consisting at present of 
only three frigates and two sloops. Of these the Cle6patra is 
detached to Jamaica for Specie for the pay office at Halifax. 
The Boston is and has been since the 26 of April at the Capes 
of Virginia blockading the Semillante a french frigate laying 
in Hampton Roads, and the Andromache sailed about a fort- 
night since for Virginia to relieve the Boston, who wants re- 
pairs not having been in port since last Autumn. The Pheas- 
ant sloop is off Boston waiting the Berceau, a stout french 
corvette, captured some time since by the Americans, and 
lately restored to the french. The Lilly is either at Halifax or 
cruising — Your Lordship will perceive that the Lilly, a mis- 
erable sloop, is the only ship, that can at present be detached 
to protect the trade from Cape Breton to West Florida — and 
there can be no doubt, but the numbers of french ships of war 
and armed vessels will increase in proportion, as it is discov- 
ered, that these shores are unprotected — 



TO LORD HAWKESBURY. 

New York 3 August 1801. 
My Lord. 

Your Lordship is undoubtedly fully informed of the im- 
mense emigrations that have taken place during the present 
season from G Britain and Ireland to these States. Of the 
cause however I suspect His Majestys Ministers are ignorant, 
under this impression I take the Liberty to state, that there 
are several Societies formed within the United States consist- 
ing principally of persons who have either from political or 
religious principles left Great Britain and Ireland, who keep 
up a constant correspondence with his Majestys Subjects, and 
by every conveyance send over to England, Scotland, and Ire- 
land, seditious inflamatory publications for the express pur- 
pose of rendering His Majestys Subjects dissatisfied with their 
present situation and the measures of Government — Describ- 



130 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

ing their own envied situation in America in the enjoyment of 
Liberty and equality, free from taxation ; and painting these 
States as a field where wealth is reaped with care and moder- 
ate industry. — Of these mischievous societies some are headed 
by dissenting Clergymen, who were obliged to leave G Britain 
on account of political violence, these men in addition to the 
above mentioned arguments,urge fanatical persuasions andhave 
deluded most of the Welsh that have emigrated this year. — 

Part of my information I have from the unfortunate 
Wretches who have come over, and from finding themselves 
deceived, are more anxious to return, than they originally 
were to come out. — Near one hundred have at different 
periods made application to me for passages home, which was 
not in my power to grant; I have however given three Welsh- 
men passages in the Prince Earnest Pacquet, in the hope, that 
on their return they will by their representations effectually 
prevent any more of their Countrymen from giving faith to 
these wicked representations. 

About two months since I received correct information that 
a society was established in this City for the purpose of com- 
municating with His Majestys Subjects in Great Britain & 
Ireland, in order to render them dissatisfied with their situa- 
tion, to encourage them to attempt a revolution and in the 
event of that not succeeding to draw these over to this Coun- 
try. Cheetham 1 an Englishman, the Editor of a newspaper, 
John Woods, 2 who had taught drawing in the University at 
Edinburgh, and a John Thomson, Scotchman were at the 
head of this junto. — About this period I received a note from 
a person who signed himself " an Englishman " ; and wishing 
to give the person the information he desired, I advertised re- 
questing him to call on me. — Woods instantly took the alarm, 
and suspecting that I had discovered the designs of his So- 
ciety ; got himself introduced to me, by a person who taught 

1 James Cheetham, at this time died in 1822. He is best known as 
editorof t he American Citizen and the author of the scurrilous His- 
Watchtower. tory of the Administration of John 

2 John Wood was born about 1755 ; Adams. 
emigrated to America in 1800, and 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 131 

my children. His confession was full as to the original design 
of the institution, but he assured me, it was discontinued — 
For the moment I suppose it was, but I have no doubt it 
is again in operation and with increased violence and malig- 
nity against His Majesty and the Government. I take the lib- 
erty to inclose your Lordship two news papers, the conse- 
quences of Woods calling on me. The representations 
contained in the first with respect to myself are generally 
devoid of truth. Your Lordship will observe that Cheetham 
altho' he denies the Society having ever commenced their 
operations, fully avows what was intended. — These publica- 
tions as well as private letters on political Subjects are for- 
warded in Ships bound to different Ports in Scotland. And I 
should suppose that a mode might be adopted by Government 
to possess themselves of some of them. — 



TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL FULLER, GOVERNOR OF THE 
ISLAND OF ST. CROIX. 

Consul Generals Office 17 Septf 1801. 
Sir. 

In reply to your favor of the 16 th of August delivered to me 
by M r Farrell, I am sorry to inform you that I have not been 
able to discover the Person who carried to the Printers the 
Extract of the Letter from S* Croix and which was published 
in the New York Gazette of the first of July. 1 

1 The publication referred to is a they could lay their hands on. The 

Letter to a New York Gentleman General has been committing one 

from a Friend in St. Croix. " Since act of violence after another for sev- 

I left you at New York," says the eral weeks," etc. 
friend, " we have had a great change St. Croix was taken by a British 

in our Government. On the Brit- fleet under command of Admiral 

ish fleet taking possession, I was in Duck worth on March 5, 1801. Be- 

hopes that they intended to act with ing very ill prepared for resistance, 

moderation ; but (it seems) it was the island was surrendered without 

only to find out the real state of opposition. It was restored to the 

people's property, so that they might Danish Government under the Treaty 

the more promptly fall on a plan to of Amiens in 1802. 
deprive every person of as much as 



132 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

Upon interrogating M r Lang the Editor he told me that the 
Gentleman who gave him the extract was a Stranger and sup- 
posing it contained nothing peculiarly offensive, but rather 
matters of dispute under the treaty, he had published it. M r 
Lang added that the person who brought the extract was at- 
tended by a lame Gentleman as I take it for granted this must 
have been Counsellor Benson, or Nelson, I never could distin- 
guish the names between him and the Judge who both came 
from S l Croix to this place — 

I have spoken very severely to the Printer, and assured him 
it was more than probable he would be prosecuted as he either 
would or could not ascertain the Author. He is not a little 
alarmed, and has promised me to be more guarded in future. — 
I do not however think either a private action or an indictment 
against Lang would be attended with damages which would 
afford any satisfactory pecuniary punishment. — 

The American presses are licentious in the extreme and 
the spirit of the Constitution tends the reverse of a check on 
them. 



TO VICE-ADMIRAL LORD HUGH SEYMOUR, JAMAICA. 

Consul General's Office for the 
Eastern States of America 23 Sept r 1801. 
My Lord — 

It is always with extreme reluctance that I make application 
to any of His Majestys officers of the Navy for the discharge 
of American Seamen impressed through mistake into service, 
from a conviction that where we have one American in our 
Service there are fifty British Seamen serving in American 
Ships — 

Instances however occur where humanity pleads so strongly 
in favor of persons impressed, that it would be doing violence 
to n iy feelings not to state their case, and intercede in their 
Behalf — The favor I am now to ask of your Lordship is of 
that description. 

Jonas Eamilton a native and Citizen of the United States 
of America, a ship carpenter by trade and a resident in this 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 133 

City, was advised for the recovery of his health to take a 
voyage, and being a poor man shipped as a Sailor on board 
the Ship Hercules, William Sutherland Master then bound 
for Curacao — On the second August Hamilton was taken 
from on board the Hercules at Curacao by a party from His 
Majestys ship the Quebec, carried on board her and detained 
as a Seaman when Cap* Sutherland came away — Hamilton 
has an aged Mother a Wife and two infant Children, dependent 
on his labor — he is 29 years of age, about five feet ten or 
eleven Inches in height and has a small Wen on one Ear and 
of a fair Complexion — Was born at Braintree, in the State of 
Massachusetts. 

Permit me my Lord to intreat in behalf of the mother Wife 
and Children that yon will have the G-oodness to order that he 
may be discharged His Majestys Service, and that should he 
have been transferred to any other ship under your command, 
you will have the Goodness to direct the order to the officer 
Commanding for his release. 1 



TO H. R. H. THE DUKE OF KENT. 

New York, 10 tb Oct' 1801. 
Sir, 

I intreat your Royal Highness will be pleased to accept my 
grateful acknowledgements for your most gracious and 
friendly letters of the 13 th and 18 th of July received a few days 
since by the Lady Hobart packet. Permit me at the same 
time to assure your Royal Highness that I am duly sensible of 
the interest you take in my son's promotion, and of your co- 
operation with Lord Hawkesbury in effecting His Majesty's 
permission for my coming to England and leaving my eldest 
son to transact the Business of my office. — I have for many 

l A very large part of Barclay's lawfully seized are here printed, for 

correspondence was taken up by the he was always ready to urge the 

ever-troublesome question of im- release of any man who could pro- 

pressment. Only a few of his many duce evidence of being a native-born 

appeals on behalf of Americans un- American citizen. 



134 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

reasons resolved not to avail myself of His Majestys leave of 
absence until the Month of March, when I shall embark for 
England. The possibility of a peace before that period is one 
of my reasons for not coming more early. 1 

I sincerely congratulate your Royal Highness on the recov- 
ery of His Majesty and am happy to hear from your pen that 
his health is better than it has been for some years past. — 
May God long preserve him a comfort to his family and a 
blessing to his Subjects. 

The Vice Courts of Admiralty beyond all doubt required a 
great reform and under this impression I took the Liberty to 
communicate my opinion last Winter to Lord Grenville on the 
Subject of the captures and condemnations of American Ves- 
sels. — It is true the American merchants by contraband trade, 
and conveying Enemy's property, have given just cause to 
suspect that every one of their Ships were laden in part or the 
whole contrary to the Law of Nations and the existing treaty ; 
still suspicion alone was not a sufficient cause for capture and 
detention, much less of eventual condemnation. By the pres- 
ent act of Parliament 2 these courts are now placed on so re- 
spectable a footing that while His Majesty's rights and those 
of the officers and men of the Navy are amply secured ; the 
property of foreigners will be preserved sacred so long as they 
continue to remove it conformably to law. — Dr. Cook 3 whom 
your Royal Highness names as the Gentleman appointed for 
Halifax, I take for granted is an able civilian and one who will 
give universal satisfaction. 

I sincerely lament that my amiable and worthy friend Sir 
John Wentworth is to be removed from his Government. The 
measure I fear will break that good man's heart. — A more 
zealous faithful Subject never existed ; but I fear he may have 
been as inattentive to the expenditure of public money as of 

1 The preliminaries of peace were great ability and force of character, 

signed in October, 1801, tho Treaty and exercised his powers with un- 

of Amiens, March 25, 1802. sparing severity in condemning 

- 41 Geo. Ill, Chap. 96. American vessels brought before 

3 Alexander Croke, LL. D., is the him as prizes. His decisions are 

person intended. He was a man of collected in Stewart's Reports. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 135 

his own. — His natural Benevolence has ever rendered him a 
dupe to designing men ; and I have more than once intreated 
him to give an absolute negative in the first instance to 
improper applications. — His interference with the Maroons I 
protested against in the warmest terms, and if Sir John will 
revert to my letters when the maroons arrived in Nova Scotia 
he will find that what I then predicted has actually come to 
pass. — Still I believe his hauds are clean, however negligent 
he may have been as to expenditures ; and although I condemn 
the measure of his ever having had anything to do with them ; I 
am satisfied, the location was judicious for their establishment. 1 

I took the Liberty to forward to your Royal Highness by 
the last Packet, a political Pamphlet, which I considered well 
written. I have now the Honor to inclose you the answer to 

it under the signature of Leonidas You will scarce have 

patience to run over this miserable performance. It is sup- 
posed to be the production of a Scotchman of the name of Wood, 
who was obliged to fly Great Britain to avoid a prosecution. 

Mrs. Barclay requests your Royal Highness' acceptance of 
her most respectful regards, and desires me to add that she 
feels herself greatly flattered by finding you still hold her in 
remembrance. 

TO GENEEAL DE LANCEY. 

New York 2 nd Deer. 1801. 
My dear Sir, 

By the promotions Stated in the London Gazette of the 5 th 
of Sept r . I learn that my son De Lancey Barclay has been re- 

1 Barclay's fears for Sir John were They were then colonized at Preston, 
unfounded, for he continued Gover- where they were supported at very 
nor of Nova Scotia until 1808, when great expense by the Government 
he was retired upon a pension. The of Jamaica; but this aid beiug with- 
Maroons here referred to were re- drawn they suffered great privations 
moved from Jamaica in 1796. They during the cold winters of the prov- 
were at first lodged in tents near the ince, and were finally, in 1800, re- 
City of Halifax aud employed by moved to the more congenial climate 
the Duke of Kent in working upon of Sierra Leone. See Haliburton's 
the fortifications, where the Maroon Nova Scotia, Vol. II, p. 282; Dai- 
Bastion still commemorates them, las's History of the Maroons. 



136 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

moved from the 41 Regt. to a cornetey in the 17 th Light Dra- 
goons. 1 I am satisfied he owes this promotion wholly to your 
kindness, and am gratefully sensible of this continued testi- 
mony of your friendly disposition to me and mine. He is at 
present at Montreal in Canada with the 41 8t . Reg* I have writ- 
ten to him informing him of his promotion and to L* General 
Hunter, requesting that he may have leave to come to New 
York in his way to England to join his Regiment. He will 
therefore leave this in February or March; not a moment 
shall be lost. — I can confidently assure you my dear Sir, that 
an acquaintance with my Son, will satisfy you that your good 
offices have not been improperly bestowed on him. — I hope to 
embark with him for London. By this conveyance I send you 
two Barrels best Newtown pippins, which I hope will arrive in 
good order — They are addressed to Brook Watson Esq r & 
Co. — Present Mrs. Barclay's and my best regards to Mrs. and 
Miss DeLancey. 



TO MR. BROUGHTON. 

New York, 13 th Dec' 1801. 
Sir. 

Your favor of the 11th Dec r covering the bill of laden and 
ace* of the Statutes at large, which you have had the Goodness 
to ship me, also the certificates of the two half tickets in the 
State lottery I rec d by the Harlequin Packet — Accept my 
thanks for the trouble you have taken — I shall make no re- 
marks on the quarterly amount you receive for me, waiting 
your answer to my letter on that subject, farther than to 
observe it appears less than my predecessor's, while my situa- 
tion requires at least the same; for two reasons — First be- 
cause the price of every article of Life is greatly enhanced and 
secondly from my seeing more company in a mouth, than Sir 
John Temple did in a year. — The latter is not from inclina- 

l General De Lancey was Colonel date August 29, 1801, and he was 
of this Regiment. De Lancey Bar- promoted to be Lieutenant in the 
clay's Commission as Cornet bears same Regiment on July 9, 1802. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 137 

tion, but with a view to further His Majestys Service — of the 
propriety of which every days experience convinces me — I will 
thank you to hint this to M r Hammond, in the Event of my 
present allowance being less than Sir John Temples. I do not 
under the present circumstances of the Nation wish it more. 
But rest assured my annual expenses exceed £2200 Sterling 
per annum ; and yet economy presides in my family. — 

Mr. Jefferson as you will perceive is President — The federal 
party, I mean the moderate ones are much pleased with his 
Speech, and augur a happy administration. — I wish their ex- 
pectations may be realized — The better informed consider it 
vox et preteria nihil — 



TO DANIEL COXE, LONDON. 

New York 4 th February 1802. 
My dear Sir 

By the Brothers I replied to your favor of the 14 th of October. 
I at the same time informed you, that I had consulted with all 
my Law friends in this City, who agreed in opinion with me, 
that there was not the most remote possibility of any success to 
an application of M rs Beverley Robinson for a compensation 
for her right of Dower in Lands in this State ; or for lands 
which she owned in fee. — M rs Robinson, as well as many other 
feme coverts were attainted with their Husbands in the Act of 
this State passed in 1776/ and the disposition of the Legisla- 
ture has ever been not to open a door for claims under that 
Act. — In addition to this M rs Kempes and M rs Margaret De 
Lanceys present claims (with those of many others) have so 
alarmed the people of this State, as to render it a subject wor- 
thy of notice in the Governors speech at the opening of the 

1 The act of October 22, 1779, is under this act. This is believed to 

intended. Mrs. Beverly Robinson, be the only case, here or in England, 

her sister Mrs. Roger Morris, and in which women were attainted of 

Mrs. Inglis, — wife of the then rector high treason, and banished and 

of Trinity Church, — were attainted threatened with death. 



138 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

present Session of the Legislature. 1 What the event will be I 
dare not predict — I hope favorable, but both M rs Kempes and 
M™ De Lanceys Council advise a composition at almost any 
rate rather than proceeding with our suits at Law and now at 
Issue. They apprehend that when these causes are brought up 
before the Court of Errors that the Senate will reverse the 
Judgement of the Supreme Court, and declare that a Wife of 
an attainted person cannot recover her Dower. We have also 
ascertained that the Attorney General has Legislative orders 
to throw every possible obstacle in the way, and to contend 
inch by inch with us. — I hope before I leave this, which will be 
by the next Packet, that something will be done by the Legis- 
lature, and on reasonable principles. I send you the paper 
containing the Governors Speech. Have the goodness to com- 
municate the purport of this to your amiable Sister. I would 
write her by this Packet, but I dread the task, as I should be 
under the necessity of mentioning the loss of my worthy 
friend Captain Church. Whose memory will ever be dear to 
many of his friends in America, as well as in Great Britain. 



TO MKS. MARGARET DE LANCEY. 

New York 6 tb February 1802. 
My dear Madam 

By the advice of your Council M r Harrison and General 
Hamilton (as mentioned in my letter to you of the 4 th of Dec r ) 
M r Colden proceeds for Albany to make one more attempt for 
an amicable composition with the Legislature of this State 

1 " The claims of dower by wid- been commenced against persons 

ows of attainted persons have as- deriving title from the state. While 

sumed so serious an aspect, that the the honor of the state demands that 

commissioners appointed by law for all proper claims should be satisfied, 

their liquidation and settlement, an attention to public economy 

deemed it expedient at the last ses- equally requires that the treasury 

sion to submit them to the decision should be guarded against improper 

of the legislature ; and as nothing or fraudulent demands." Governor 

was definitely arranged at that pe- Clinton's speech, January 26, 1802. 
riod, a great number of suits have 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 139 

now sitting in that City ; previous to our inquiring the amount 
of your Dower in the trial of the issues now joined between 
you, and several of the tenants. — Inclosed is the Governor's 
speech at the opening of the session — ; in which he makes spe- 
cific remarks on the claims and suits now made and depending 
by widows of attainted persons for lands in this State. It is 
impossible from the mode in which he expressed himself to 
ascertain whether it is his opinion that an equitable allowance 
should be made in extinguishing the claims for dower. Gen- 
tlemen in this place think he is inclined to an opposite line of 
conduct — M r Colden however proceeds with every necessary 
instruction, and letters to many of the leading members on 
both sides in the house. — 

I lament that M r Brockholst Livingston 1 has vacated his 
seat, by accepting the appointment of Judge in the Supreme 
Court, as he had promised me his interest in obtaining you 
justice — He will however deliver his sentiments to the lead- 
ing Members and recommends their making reasonable com- 
pensation — 

I hope to have it in my power to write you in a few weeks 
that your business is terminated satisfactorily, but I cannot 
say I am sanguine in my expectations. — 



FROM MR. COLDEN. 

Albany 17 February, 1802. 
My dear Sir 

On my arrival at this place I found that the Legislature had 
anticipated the application I was about to make to them, and 
have by a resolution originating with Mr. De Witt Clinton 
in the Senate almost shut out every hope of compromising 
with the State on any Terms whatever — By the resolution 
I have mentioned the Senate have directed the Attorney 
General to bring before them by writ of error any judg- 

1 Appointed this year a Judge of Justices of the Supreme Court of 
the New-York Supreme Court. In the United States. 
1807 he was appointed one of the 



140 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

ment that may be pronounced in favor of the claims of Wid- 
ows, — We may say that Mr. Clinton was lost to all kind of 
delicacy when by an order of this sort he shewed his anxiety 
to pass judgement on the point to be brought before him — We 
may say that this resolution discovers an eagerness very incon- 
sistent with the dignity of a Senate, and with an intention to 
be upright and impartial judges — Mr. Clinton might be told 
that by resisting the judgement of the Supreme Court in favor 
of the Widows he was persecuting the inocent for the sake of 
his ambition, and to purchase an infamous popularity by the 
few thousand dollars that may be saved to the state thro his 
machinations — But all those reproaches would be in vain. I 
think that Mr. Clinton and the majority of both houses which 
he governs absolutely, are men utterly void of feeling and 
honor — Is it right? or wrong? are questions that never occur 
to them in the consideration of a measure — when it is ascer- 
tained whether it will be popular or otherwise, it is deter- 
mined — 

Finding that the board would not move a step in the busi- 
ness of Mrs. De Lancy I yesterday presented a memorial to 
the house of assembly — In which I stated that she was desirous 
of compromising with the State on terms the most favorable to 
them, and I endeavored to rouse the sympathy & justice of the 
house and a concern for the honor and reputation of the na- 
tion, as well as of the individual members who compose its 
Legislature — Yesterday, altho it was introduced in a very 
handsome manner by my friend Mr. Henry, nothing was done 
with this. What will be its fate it is difficult to say but I 
think there is hardly anything to be hoped — 

I am &c Cadwallader D. Colden. 



FROM MR. COLDEN. 

Albany 17th. February 1802. 
My dear Sir: — 

Since I wrote to you yesterday the business that I am upon 
I think wears a more favorable aspect — I have had an oppor- 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 141 

tunity of conversing with most of the influential members in 
the Legislature on either side and hope I have made an im- 
pression on their minds propitious to our cause — A commit- 
tee has been appointed before which I have appeared and 
I am again to meet them to-morrow — And I have reason to 
hope that they will make a report more favorable than I a few 
days since expected to obtain — Tho it will by no means meet 
the justice of the claim — If such a report should be made, and 
should meet with serious opposition in the house, I have in- 
structed my friends to ask permission for the claimants to be 
heard by counsel at the Bar. 

Notwithstanding all I have said you must not be too san- 
guine as to my success — If you could know of what strange 
materials our present honorable legislature is composed you 
w^ easily believe that it is difficult to calculate upon their 
acts — Yet I verily believe that unless the Widows are success- 
ful in this mode, they can not expect it by other means. For 
the resolution of the Senate which I mentioned to you yester- 
day is too sure an evidence of the spirit with which the Court 
of Errors would hear their cause. 



FROM MR. COLDEN. 

New York March 25th, 1802. 
Dear Sir: 

Agreeably to your request I proceed to give you some ac- 
count of what I have been doing at Albany in relation to the 
claims of Mrs. Kempe and Mrs. Delancy. 

The releases which I herewith send you to be executed by 
Mrs. Kempe will sufficiently explain the bargain, I have made 
in her behalf with the State. It is to be understood however, 
that Mrs. Kempe has it entirely in her power to agree to this 
offer on the part of the State, or not as she may think proper. 
If she does not agree the various suits that have been in- 
stituted may be prosecuted — It must also be remembered that 
the costs of these suits are to be paid out of the sum men- 
tioned in the release. 



142 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

By far the greater part of the lands mentioned in the paper 
entitled a Schedule of the real estate of the late John Taber 
Kempe, Esquire are situated in the State of Vermont. 

Taking this into consideration and also the disposition of 
our present rulers I think Mrs. Kempe certainly ought to ac- 
eepl this sum. Altho I am perfectly satisfied that it is not 
more than £ of the real value of her dower. 1 

As to Mrs. Delancy's affairs I wish the information I have to 
give you was more satisfactory than what I can now offer you. 

It will be unnecessary for me to repeat a detail of the cir- 
cumstances that occurred last winter. It will be sufficient to 
say that what was then done satisfied us that all application 
to the board instituted for the purpose of Extinguishing Claims 
of this sort would be in vain. They have said that the amount 
Mrs. Delaucy demanded was far beyond what the legislature 
had in view, when the power of this board was delegated And 
therefore they refused to act and referred us to the legislature. 
Of course all my applications this winter have been to that 
body. I was not a little surprised soon after my arrival in Al- 
bany to find a resolution brought forward in the Senate re- 
quiring the Attorney General to bring before the Court of 
Errors all judgments that had been or should be rendered in 
favor of the right of Dower of the widows of persons whose 
estates had been confiscated. You know the Court of Errors 
is composed of the very persons who as Senators passed this 
resolution. And it is a sufficient indication of what would be 
the event of the Causes which they manifest such a desire to 
have before them. 

I presented a memorial to the Assembly which was com- 
mitted to three Gentlemen two of them leaders of the political 
parties in the Legislature. After an attendance on this Com- 
mittee of more than four weeks, in which time I made it a 
point to meet them or at least to see one of them every day, I 
was. after an absence from my office and family so much 
longer than I expected when I left them, obliged to return be- 

1 The sum for which Mrs. Kempe's claims were released, after deducting 
all counsel fees and expenses, amounted to $5713.39. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1799-1802 143 

fore I could bring them to make any report upon the subject. 
I however had made them several propositions and obtained a 
promise that they would report in a few days. 

I left the business in charge of Mr. Emott who is a partner 
of Mr. Henry one of the Committee. I am convinced Mr. 
Emott will attend to the business. And I hope I shall hear 
from him before you leave us. 

I am &c. Cadwallader D. Colden. 1 



TO LORD HAWKESBURY. 

New York 2d April, 1802. 
My Lord, 

By the Packet which arrived last Evening I was honored 
with your Lordships letter of the 13th of February, in which 
you request my opinion, whether in the present state of the 
commercial intercourse between His Majestys Dominions and 
the United States, it is expedient to make a permanent Estab- 
lishment of a Vice Consulship at New Port in the State of 
Rhode Island. — 

Rhode Island is the second smallest state in the Union, pos- 
sessed of but few seaports, and carrying on a very limited 
Commerce when compared with most of the other States ; the 
appointment therefore of a Vice Consul to that State appears 
to me far from necessary taking the official duty simply into 
consideration. The Eastern part of the State of Connecticut, 

1 Here we take leave of Mrs. De This amount was fixed by a report 
Lancey and her claims. On April 5, of the Commissioners, — the Conip- 
1802, the Assembly passed a resolu- troller, Attorney-General, and Sur- 
tion in favor of a compromise ; and veyor-General of the State, — and 
as Barclay was then on the point of was duly approved by the Governor, 
sailing for England, he procured a Mrs. De Lancey gave a release of all 
letter from Harison advising a set- her claims and accepted the money, 
tlement. While in England Barclay though not without vigorous grumb- 
succeeded in persuading Mrs. De ling at Mr. Colden's bill, which was 
Lancey to accept a moderate sum, only paid after the matter had been 
and on January 31, 1803, while he submitted to the arbitration of Gen- 
was still abroad, $34,000 was offered, eral Hamilton and Mr. Harison. 



144 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

would be a preferable situation for the residence of a Vice Con- 
sul, within the Limits of whose Jurisdiction Rhode Island may 
be included — New London should be the place of his residence, 
a central position in the "State, distant only sixty miles from 
Providence in Rhode Island, and one hundred and forty from 
this City. — I cannot however my Lord add that I even con- 
sider a consular appointment necessary for Connecticut. — In 
a political point of view there can be no question, but that 
Consuls or Vice Consuls in both these States, if Men of Pru- 
dence and engaging manner, might forward His Majestys In- 
terests, and predispose the Inhabitants in favor of the British 
Government. In this point of view if only one Vice Consul 
is appointed, Rhode Island is the State, and New Port the 
place for his residence — During the Summer Season New 
Port is crowded with the most fashionable influential Charac- 
ters from Maryland to Georgia, who go thither for the recov- 
ery of their health or to avoid the prevailing summer epidem- 
ics of a southern climate. A consul therefore resident in New 
Port would have an opportunity of becoming acquainted with 
the first Characters in America : and by gaining on their con- 
fidence naturally lead them to think favorably of the country 
he represents — 



CHAPTER IV 

CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 

about April 10, 1802, Colonel Barclay, with his 
II son De Lancey, embarked on the packet for 
England, touched doubtless at Halifax, and in due 
season reached his destination. It was his first visit to 
England, and it must have been full of pleasure and 
interest. He had many old friends and connections 
among the American loyalists who still survived; he 
was favorably known to the official world ; and he met 
with a warm welcome from his distant relatives, the 
Barclays of the well-known banking and brewing firms 
in London. Unfortunately his correspondence for this 
period has not been preserved, but we get one glimpse 
of him through the official correspondence of the Amer- 
ican minister. Madison, writing to Rufus King in 
June, 1802, had instructed him to endeavor to nego- 
tiate a treaty for settling the remaining questions rela- 
tive to the boundary between the two nations, and 
especially those in regard to the islands in the Bay of 
Passamaquoddy. On February 28, 1803, King wrote 
from London that by Lord Hawkesbury's desire he had 
conferred with Colonel Barclay on the subject, and as 
the result of the conversation saw nothing to impede a 
settlement. 1 

On April 4, 1803, Barclay left London, and on May 
21, after " an ordinary passage of six weeks," reached 

l Amer. State Papers, For. Rel., Vol. II, p. 590. 

10 145 



146 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

New- York, and found his wife and such of his chil- 
dren as were at home all in good health. But they 
were anxiously awaiting the return of Beverley, the 
fourth son, who had gone South to avoid the rigors of 
a New- York winter. He had developed during the pre- 
vious year serious symptoms of a pulmonary complaint, 
and had now been spending several months in South 
Carolina, — probably with his aunt, Mrs. Izard. The 
change of climate had, however, come too late. On 
June 5th he arrived in New- York in the last stages of 
consumption, and died on the 15th of the same month, 
being then not much more than sixteen years of age. 
" He was," said Barclay, writing to a friend, " one of 
the most amiable and promising of children, who never 
had rendered censure or admonition necessary, and 
whose application to his studies, added to more than 
ordinary natural abilities, gave me every reason to 
hope he would have made a distinguished literary 
character. You who are a Parent and blessed as I am 
with the best and most lovely of Children can feel for 
Mrs. Barclay and myself under this severe affliction." 
The threatening aspect of the relations between 
England and the United States, however, soon came 
to divert Barclay's thoughts and claim his most seri- 
ous attention. On May 16, while he was still at sea, 
war had again fceeii declared between England and 
France, and Napoleon at once began his preparations 
for an invasion of England. The war was, however, 
mainly carried on at sea, and especially in the West 
Indies, where St. Lucie, Tobago, and Dutch Gruiana 
were taken by the British forces, and the French 
islands were blockaded'. The export of French sugars 
and other colonial products was a trade which the Brit- 
ish government particularly sought to break up ; and 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 147 

their courts held that such goods, if found in transit on 
a neutral ship, rendered the vessel as well as the cargo 
liable to condemnation. British squadrons were there- 
fore kept constantly cruising off the coast from Massa- 
chusetts Bay to the capes of Virginia, searching one 
American vessel after another in the effort to find 
some pretext for putting a prize crew aboard and or- 
dering her off to the Admiralty Court at Halifax. 
Above all, the impressment of seamen went on more 
vigorously than ever. 

Under these circumstances, the post of British Con- 
sul in New- York became every day more delicate and 
important. Hardly an American vessel came in but 
had been searched by an English frigate, and had had 
men taken from her decks. On the other hand, every 
British ship that entered the harbor lost men by deser- 
tion. The great majority of the population openly 
sympathized with the French cause, and the author- 
ities made no pretense of trying to assist in recovering 
deserters. As yet there was no open outbreak; but 
with every English frigate that took up her station off 
the Hook, — or, worse still, that came up to the Nar- 
rows, — there was the hourly chance of some provoking 
insult or reckless act of violence, that might bring 
about an actual collision. 

Jerome Bonaparte's presence in the United States 
added another object for the watchfulness of the Eng- 
lish naval force, and was another source of anxiety to 
the British Consul. 

How Barclay steered his difficult course in these 
troubled times may be judged from the letters which 
follow. 

He continued to live in New- York ; but from August 
20 to October 31, 1803, the prevalence of yellow fever 



148 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

compelled him to remove with his family to Westches- 
ter. On the very day that the family removed to the 
country, Susan, the third daughter, was married at St. 
Mark's Church to Peter Gerard Stuy vesant,— a young 
gentleman of excellent family and a genteel fortune. 1 



TO VICE-ADMIRAL SIR ANDREW MITCHELL. 

New York 22 July, 1803. 

(Private.) 

It is with regret that I am under the necessity of informing 
you that the Pilots of New York are to a man inclined rather 
to favor the french, than the English, being of the description 
termed in the Politics of America, democrats and not federal- 
ists. I mention this that you may caution the officers under 
your command in the event of their being off this place not to 
give credit to anything they may say, but to act from their 
own Judgment and discretion. — There is a man of the name 
of Daniel, lately dismissed the Service of Pilot, under the pre- 
tence of his Having run the American Frigate Boston on 
Shore, but in reality because he was a federalist and much at- 
tached to our Government — He was the oldest and best Pilot 
in New York, and I think may be of Service if employed to 
obtain private information by associating with the Pilots — 
The Spanish Brig and French Ship which arrived here at the 
time the Lilly was off the Hook, have sold their Cargoes in 
this City, and the Ship is up for sale — I have not yet been 
able to ascertain whether the other French Ship will after 
she is repaired take in her cargo and proceed for France. Of 
this I will give you the earliest notice — 

Several Seamen have engaged with me to join your Squad- 

1 He was directly descended from ston, the first Lord of the Manor, 

the last of the Dutch governors; and Mr. Stnyvesant was born in 1778, 

his mother was Margaret Livingston, graduated at Columbia College in 

a granddaughter of Robert Living- 171)4, and died without issue in 1847. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 149 

ron, and if they continue of the same mind they shall be sent 
in the Earl of Leicester Packet — I have desired Captain 
Sharpe of the Packet to send his Boatswain and a few good 
men on shore to endeavor to recruit Seamen. 



TO LOED HAWKESBUEY. 

New York 29 lh July, 1803. 
My Lord. 

I have received correct information of Jerome Bonaparte 
having arrived from the West Indies to these States, and that 
he was in Baltimore on the 27 th Instant ; his wish is to get to 
France; he travels under an assumed name, and is very appre- 
hensive of being taken by some of our ships of War in his way 
home. — He has talked of coming on from Baltimore to this city 
in order to embark ; bat the well known Commodore Barney 1 
having takeu him to his house in Baltimore, it is suspected 
that he will persuade him to take his passage from thence ; 
at all Events it is uncertain from what port he may sail. — 

I take the Liberty to give your Lordship a description of 
him and his companions and attendant, that you may if you 
think it of moment have it communicated to the officers of the 
Navy should they fall into their hands. — Jerome Bonaparte 
appears to be from twenty to twenty three years of age, 2 of a 
slender make and sallow complexion, about 5 feet 6 or 7 Inches 
in height. — His hair is cropped black and smooth, but at times 
he adds a que and powder. There are two Gentlemen who 
travel with him. The first about 30 years of age, dark com- 
plexion, short curly dark hair, marked a little With the small 
pox and has bad upper teeth, in height about 5 feet 9 or 5-10. 
The second is of the same stature fair complexion thick, bushy, 
sandy or reddish hair, marked also a little with the small pox ; 

1 Joshua Barney was born in 1759, lish of piracy. From 1794 to 1800 he 

and died in 1818. He was in the served in the Freu oh Navy. 

United States Naval Service during 2 He was born November 15, 1784, 

the Eevolution, was at times a pri- and was therefore not quite nineteen 

vateer, and was accused by the Eng- years old. 

10A 



150 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

has on his left ear a remarkable mole, immediately where an 
ear is perforated for a ring. — They pass under feigned names. 
Jerome Bonaparte — assumes that of Dalbert, or D'Albert. 
The first described of his Companions calls himself Armand, 
and the other is styled Alexander. I should not however be 
surprized if they again changed their names. A Servant of 
about 24 years, 5 feet 8 or 9 Inches attends them, his com- 
plexion and hair dark, the latter long and worn in a que. He 
wears Earrings. 1 

Should they come to this City, I will exert every nerve to 
find out the precise time of their sailing, and lay a plan to 
have them taken. — The above information shall be forwarded 
to Sir Andrew Mitchell at Halifax. 



TO MR. HAMMOND. 

New York 3 d October, 1803. 
Sir. 

I have the Honor to lay before you the following statement 
for the information of Lord Hawkesbury, and in the event of 
his considering it of sufficient moment, that he may transmit 
the same to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. 

Nathan Haley an American citizen, — Master of the Ameri- 
can Ship Hare sailed from London in the year 1797 for New 
York; but instead of proceeding for that place, he fraudu- 
lently carried the Ship into Dieppe, in the hope of having her 
condemned to him as a prize, he being at that time invested 
with a commission in the French Service. The Cargo and 
probably the Ship was insured in London, and there is reason 
to suppose M r Isaac Classon the owner of the Ship was not ig- 
norant of Haleys intention. The Underwriters in Loudon 
have long since paid the amount assured. 

1 Jerome at this time had with him young man named Re wbel, who af- 

M. M.-yronnet, a Lieutenant in the tervvard rose to the rank of General 

French Navy ; a private secretary, in the French Army. See Ducasse, 

.M. Le Camus ; a physician ; and a Les Rois Freres de Napoleon I. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 151 

Haley is now on the point of sailing in a small ship named 
the Brutus ; her descriptiou is inclosed, and it is generally sup- 
posed with a view to capture British merchant ships — It is 
given out that she is bound for the West Indies, but if Tom 
Paine goes a Passenger with him, I am rather apt to think 
they will proceed to France, and after landing Paine, that 
Haley will cruize on the English coast to be near a port to 
send his Prizes. From the construction of this Ship, Haley can 
have no other object in view, because as a Merchant vessel, 
she carries very little, and her expenses are great. Haley is a 
Native of Stonington Town in Connecticut. His person can 
easily be identified here and in London, and the original letter 
from him to Isaac Classon (a copy whereof I have the Honor 
to inclose) is in the possession of the Underwriters at Lloyds, 
their attornies, or the agents of the assured on that Ship and 
Cargo, as it was sent home to enable the assured to recover 
from the Underwriters. — The ship is supposed to be Nathan 
Haleys property, altho' the Sea letter is taken out in his Bro- 
thers name. It is not yet ascertained whether Haley will 
command her or not, but he will assuredly go in her. — Should 
she be met by any of His Majesty s ships of War, on examina- 
tion I trust she will be found a lawful Prize ; at all Events 
Haley and Thomas Paine should be made Prisoners & com- 
mitted for Trial. The former as an American Subject, having 
a french commission in 1797, and by virtue of that carrying 
British Property into an Enemies Port; the latter as a British 
Subject in the Service of France in the last War. — I have 
communicated the preceding to Vice Admirals Sir Andrew 
Mitchell, and Sir Thomas Duckworth. — 

Permit me also to submit for the consideration of His Maj- 
estys Ministers, the propriety of prohibiting during the pres- 
ent war the exportation of Grim powder to these States as an 
article of merchandize ; three fourths of which is sent from 
hence if not direct, at least through the Danish and Spanish 
Islands to the french settlements in the West Indies. A Pilot 
boat is now on the point of sailing for Saint Croix ladened 
with powder, with one tier of flour over it. 



152 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

TO VICE-ADMIRAL SIR ANDREW MITCHELL. 

New York, 5 Nov' 1803. 
Sir. 

I regret that some of our cruizers are not more often in and 
out of this port, or rather off and on it, communicating with 
me. Col : Hamilton 1 expresses the same Sentiments with re- 
spect to the Chesepeak — The French Ship which came into 
the hook early last Summer at the same time with His Maj- 
estys Ship the Lilly, sailed about six days since for Bourdeaux 
with a very valuable cargo, under an American certificate of 
ownership as the property of a M r John Juhel her name the 
Eliza, Smith master. — I can prove the reverse of this, and she 
would have been a safe prize. — A schooner named the Niad 
will sail the first fair Wind for the West Indies, ladened with 
a valuable Cargo, and is to be converted into a privateer on 
her arrival. She is owned by a person named John Cauchois, 
a frenchman, made a citizen of these States; and a large 
french Ship now nearly loaded will sail in all next Week for 
Bourdeaux precisely under the same eircumstances. A valua- 
ble french Brig and a Schooner have arrived within a few 
days from the West Indies. 

Jerome Bonaparte appears at home in these States, and it is 
reported that he is soon to be married to a Miss Patterson a 
Lady of Baltimore with a large fortune. 2 — This City is once 
more restored to health. Had the Packet sailed on Wednes- 
day, she might have carried my letter giving an account and 
description of the Eliza for Bourdeaux ; but M r Thornton has 
detained her until this day, and now the Wind is Easterly with 
every appearance of foul Weather. 



1 British Consul at Norfolk, Va. chon, the French charge d'affaires, 

2 His marriage-license was issued who pointed out to all parties the 
October 2 ( J, 1S03. The ceremony invalidity of the proposed marriage 
was postponed in consequence, it under French law. Les Rois Freres 
would sn in. of the efforts of Pi- de Napoleon I", p. 178. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 153 

TO CAPTAIN COCKBURN. 1 

New York 15 th November 1803. 

(Private.) 
Dear Sir. 

I am much pained to learn of the desertion of eight of your 
men, and of the villainy of the caulker sent down from hence, 
to work on the Frigate, who shamefully enticed them to de- 
sert. — The Lieutenant who came up last Evening with your 
Letter to the Mayor 2 has reported to you my opinion on this 
subject. I am from mature reflection confirmed in what I de- 
sired him to say to you, towit that the only Measures to be 
adopted against the caulker, will be at law, as a misdemeanor 
in attempting to interrupt the Harmony which at present ex- 
ists between the two Nations. Indeed I am not perfectly clear 
that even an Indictment will lay. — M r Harison the ablest 
Counsel in America, and a Gentleman much attached to Great 
Britain coincides in opinion with me. — 

The best mode to be adopted is to state the facts officially to 
M r Merry, and request he will apply to the American Govern- 
ment for a redress of this act of sedition & Conspiracy com- 
mitted by an American Citizen on board your Ship. — When 
you have done this, you have performed your duty, and it is 
more than probable the President will direct the Attorney Gen- 
eral to prosecute this man ; you will be obliged to have the 
Quarter Master here as the Witness. — I understand the Mayor 
will do every thing in his power to recover the deserters and 
send them to you. 

My advice is that you put the Caulker at Liberty without 
Loss of time. Whatever his Conduct may have been, his de- 
tention can be punished. — The Treaty of Amity Commerce 
& Navigation is silent on this Head. 

1 Afterward Admiral Cockburn, at Norfolk, Va., on November 9th. 

notorious for his share in the burn- The Phaeton reached New-York No- 

ing of the public buildings in Wash- vember 10th, in need of extensive 

ington. He was at this time in repairs. 

command of H. M. S. Phaeton, in 2 De Witt Clinton, who had just 

which Anthony Merry, the new Brit- been appointed upon the resigna- 

ish minister, had come over, landing tion of Edward Livingston. 



154 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

TO VICE-ADMIRAL SIR ANDREW MITCHELL. 

New York, 22 d Nov' 1803. 
Sir. 

The Prince Adolphus Packet brought me your respective 
Letters of the 12 th and 17 th of October. — Jerome Bonaparte ar- 
rived here on the 19 th current, with an intention, as it is said, 
of passing the Winter ; a circumstance far from improbable, 
as he appears in full pursuit of matrimony. While at Balti- 
more he was twice on the Eve of marriage, unfortunate how- 
ever for him both matches were broken off either by the 
Ladies or their friends. Such are the best accounts from 
thence. Inclosed is an anecdote respecting him. 1 — Your let- 
ter for M r Stewart has been forwarded to him, he not having 
yet returned to town owing to the indisposition of his Lady. — 

His Majestys Ship Phaeton Cap* Cockburn which brought 
out M r Merry to Norfolk in Virginia, arrived here about ten 
days since to refit. Cap 1 Cockburn has lost fourteen men by 
desertion. Her destination is secret, at least too much so to 
trust it in a letter going by a common conveyance. 2 She will 
not leave this under ten days, possibly double that period. — 

Captain Bradley of His Majestys Ship Cambrian was off 
this place, the last of September ; and dispatched a Pilot Boat 
to me with a letter, requesting to be informed, whether the 
report was correct that the Andromache Cap 1 Laurie was on 
shore at Cape Hatteras. I next day returned him an answer, 
that it never had been credited, and from the period elapsed 
without further confirmation could not be true. We have 
not any news at present. The French Ship covered by an 
American Certificate sailed from Bourdeaux on Saturday, her 
present name the Jane. 

Captain Bradley in the Evening of the 1 st of October im- 
pressed from on board the Ship American Packet, Solomon 

1 No copy of the " anecdote " was Britain. See the letter to Merry of 
preserved. It may probably have December 9, 1803. A part of the 
been a newspaper cutting. money was shipped to Calcutta in 

2 He was to carry out a part of the the Sir Edward Hughes, belonging 
money payable by the U. S. to Great to the East India Company. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 155 

Swain Master, a Seaman named Thomas Cook, a Citizen of the 
States, born at Shrewsbury in New Jersey, or near that place. 
He is well known here as a real American Citizen, and I will 
thank you to order him to be discharged. 



TO LIEUT. GENERAL HUNTER. 1 

New York 2 d Dec r 1803. 
Sir. 

Jerome Bonaparte, brother of the first Consul has been some 
months in these States, particularly in Maryland. He arrived 
at New York about the 20 th Ult° and left it the day before yes- 
terday professedly to return to the Southward. I have how- 
ever been informed that it is his intention after passing a few 
days in New Jersey, privately to go to Albany, and to com- 
municate with the French in Canada; it is also suggested that 
he may probably go to the American Line near Lake Cham- 
plain, where a french man named Rous lives, and who is no- 
torious for aiding and harbouring British Deserters from Can- 
ada. MacLean who some years since was executed in Canada 
was particularly intimate with Rous. I have given you this 
information to ennable you to keep an attentive Eye on the 
Southern limits of Canada. The information comes from 
a Gentleman ; who I am confident believes it, yet I confess I 
have my Doubts. Should I learn that he has really proceeded 
Southward, you shall have the earliest notice; on the other 
hand, if he arrives at Albany you will have advice from 
thence. 

TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 9 th Dec r 1803. 
Sir 

I have the Honor to acknowledge the receipt by this days 
mail of your Letter N° 2 dated the 5 th Current, enclosing a bill 

1 Peter Hunter, born in Scotland, 1746; died at Quebec in 1805. He was 
Commander of the Forces in Canada. 



156 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

at sight dated 3 d December 1803 for eight hundred and eighty 
eight thousand dollars drawn by Th T Tucker Treasurer of 
the United States on Jonathan Burrell Esq r cashier office Dis- 
count and Deposit New York payable to your order, and by 
your endorsement made payable to me. 1 I have presented the 
Bill for payment, and the Cashier is ready to make it in the 
current Money of the United States, whenever I may apply 
for it. He assures me however that it will not be in his power 
to convenience me with more than four hundred and fifty or 
at the utmost five hundred thousand Dollars. The remainder 
must be in British and Portugal — or French and Spanish 
Gold by weight. At present Spanish milled Dollars bear a 
premium of one and one half percent, but admitting that I 
was authorized to pay the same, I am satisfied that four hun- 
dred thousand dollars could not be procured from Philadel- 
phia to Boston at that advance, and that the instant it was 
known the premium would rise to two and one half percent. — 
The obtaining of Dollars therefore to the Northward of the 
Chesepeak, other than from the Bank is out of the question. — 
I have communicated not only to M r Burrell the Cashier but 
also to M r Ray the President my disappointment in the infor- 
mation that the amount of the Bill could not be paid in Span- 
ish milled Dollars, and I learn from them that they have not 
received any orders or directions, mediately or immediately 
from the Secretary of the Treasury on this Subject. I sus- 
pect an order, or strongly worded request from M r Gallatin, 
would effect the purpose of a payment of the whole in Dollars. 
— I shall therefore wait your further instructions. The money 
when received shall be paid over as you have directed, towit 
four hundred and forty four thousand Dollars to Captain 
Cockburn and the remaining four hundred and forty four 
thousand dollars to the Captain who may arrive here duly au- 
thorized to receive it. — Equal attention Sir shall be paid to 
every other part of the directions contained in your letter. — 

1 This was tlic first instalment of which fixed the indemnity for the 

the £600,000 payable by the U. S. to debts due to British subjects they 

Great Britain under Rufus Kind's had been prevented from collecting 

Convention of January 8, 1802, in consequence of the Revolution. 



CONSUL-GENERAL. 1803-1804 157 



The Cashier of the Bank acquaints me N that, I may tell the 
money out at my leisure, and that it may from day to day be 
redeposited in the Vaults of the Bank, the Boxes under my 
Seal, but that all sums told and so deposited must be at the 
risque of His Majesty. This I think but reasonable, I how- 
ever wish your opinion thereon. 



TO DE WITT CLINTON. 

New York 29 th Dec r 1803. 
Sir. 

I have the Honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter 
yesterday respecting the Seamen of His Majestys Ship Phaeton 
George Cockburn Esq r Commander now confined as Vagrants 
in the Bridewell of this City, together with the determination 
of the Justices of the Police on the subject of their being de- 
livered up to Captain Cockburn — There would be an end to 
all subordination in His Majestys Navy if Captains were com- 
pelled to come to such terms as are proposed by the Justices 
of Police, as a preliminary promise before the Seamen can be 
delivered ; but this much Sir I can assure both you and them 
that Captain Cockburn will not bring the men to a general 
Court Martial, or have them severely punished on board his 
Ship. I trust therefore as the Men are willing to join their 
Ship, that the Justices of the Peace will order them to be de- 
livered to Captain Cockburns order. 



TO WILLIAM BRAMSTON, CANTON, CHINA. 

New York 27 April 1804. 
Sir. 

M r Waters late Purser in the India Companys Ship Britan- 
nia, but now of the Sir Edward Hughes, arrived here in De- 
cember last to take money on board for Calcutta — On my 
complaint to him that the Teas in America were of very infe- 
rior quality, he tendered me a letter of introduction to you, 



158 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

assuring me that you would have the goodness to send the 
best to be purchased at Canton — The letter from him I take 
the Liberty to inclose, and M r Isaac Bell who goes from hence 
in the Ship Triton as Super Cargo will deliver to you two 
hundred and fifty Spanish Dollars — Will you do me the 
favor to apply one hundred or near that amount in the pur- 
chase of a set of table china, a list of which is inclosed — The 
remainder lay out in equal quantities of black and Green Teas 
of the first quality to be purchased — I must give you the ad- 
ditional trouble to intreat that a proportion of the black and 
green tea to the value of fifty dollars may be put up in sepa- 
rate Boxes, being for an old Lady my particular friend, the re- 
mainder for my use — Should the China or tea amount to a 
few dollars more, M r Bell has my orders to pay it to you. — M r 
Bell is a worthy honorable American Gentleman, any atten- 
tion you may have it in your power to shew him will be doing 
me a favor. — 

If I can render you any Service here it will afford me plea- 
sure — I trust you will pardon the Liberty I have taken. 



TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 12 th May 1804. 
Sir, 

Captain Douglass of His Majestys Ship Boston left this the 
day before yesterday at noon, to go on board his Ship at the 
Hook and proceed to Norfolk in Virginia. I this day received 
a Letter from the President of the marine insurance Company 
in this City, stating a French Cruizer being off Georgia and 
South Carolina, committing depredations on British and 
American ships. Of this I have notified Capt. Douglass. At 
the same time I was informed of another French Privateer 
being on the Banks of Newfoundland — By a vessel going to 
Halifax I shall communicate the above to Vice Admiral Sir 
Andrew Mitchell. 1 

1 See letter to Mr. Neilson, September 7, 1804, below. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 159 

TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 25 May 1804. 
Sir, 

The Sybille and Dido French Frigates of 44 Guns each ar- 
rived here last Evening from Guadeloupe and anchored at the 
Quarantine Ground about nine miles below the city — I have 
not yet been able to learn their Business, probable stay or fu- 
ture destination. The moment I am possessed of either you 
shall receive information — 

I have dispatched a letter to Boston, to be from thence for- 
warded to Sir Andrew Mitchell at Halifax, and will endeavour 
to hasten the sailing of a vessel for St. Johns, New Brunswick ; 
but both these are circuitous routs. — It is much to be regretted 
that I am neither authorized by Lord Hawkesbury, or Sir An- 
drew Mitchell to hire a dispatch boat on such occasions. Per- 
haps your Excellency may think it proper to direct me to in- 
cur the expence on future occasions of moment. 



TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 1 st June 1804. 
Sir. 

In answer to your letter N° 12 of the 28 th of May, permit to 
observe that I cannot learn that the Commander of the two 
French Frigates now in this Port, had any particular object 
communicated to him for coming here: although I think it 
probable he had either dispatches for M r Pichon, or directions 
to receive orders from him. I procured a sensible young 
Gentleman to get acquainted with the Officers of these Ships, 
by taking his lodgings in the same hotel where they staid — 
From them he obtained the following particulars. That the 
Dido and Sybille Frigates had laid some time in Rockfort 
ready for Sea before an opportunity offered to escape the vigi- 
lance of our Cruizers — That they at length escaped, each 
ship having 350 Soldiers on board besides Seamen & Marines, 
also about 40 French men apprehended by order of the first 



160 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

Consul and privately put on board. Amongst these were 
three Generals, and other Officers of various Ranks, and a 
number of editors of newspapers. These were landed at 
Cayenne as exiles — The Frigates then proceeded to Guade- 
loupe where about one-half of the land forces were disembarked, 
and the remainder put on board Privateers and sent to Mar- 
tinico to reinforce that Garrison. The Ships immediately 
overhauled their Rigging, took in their water &c. &c and pre- 
pared with all haste apparently to return to France — That 
the officer Commanding gave passages to upwards of a dozen 
Gentlemen of Guadeloupe to go home in one or other of the 
Frigates. Having sealed orders on board to be opened on ar- 
riving in a certain Latitude, it was found on opening them, 
that the Ships were to repair to New York for further orders, 
but what those orders are I cannot learn. The Commanding 
officer on his arrival proceeded to the Southward and as I sup- 
pose to Washington — he is not yet returned. It is said their 
stay will be short, and I have reason to believe Bonaparte and 
his Lady will embark on board one of them. 1 The Winds for 
the last ten days have been unfavorable for the Vessels carry- 
ing my letters to Sir Andrew Mitchell — I however hope he 
will receive them in a day or two. The Frigates are very fine 
large Ships, particularly the Dido — They have fifteen ports 
on each Side, carry 18 pounders on the Main, and it is said 18 ,b 
Carronades on their fore castle and Quarter Deck, in my 
opinion their Carronades must be heavier. The officers com- 
plain of their Men not being expert Seamen, but the Pilot who 
brought up the Dido, assures me they are better than french 
Seamen ordinarily are, and that both Ships were worked up 
in a handsome seaman like manner. 

It is not General Ney, but General Rey who has arrived here 
as Consul General. He is a native of Brittany, and com- 
manded at Rennes — Was universally disliked both by the 
Civil and Military where ever he had a command — He is rep- 
resented to me, by a person who knows him well, as a man 
of a ferocious disposition, violent temper, imperious manner, 
and much addicted to Liquor — He has brought his Wife, and 
1 Jerome Bonaparte and Miss Patterson were married December 24, 1803. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 161 

two or three Children with him and the opinion of the French 
here is that the first Consul gave him this appointment in order 
to get rid of him. — He springs from the Dregs of the nation. 1 
His Chancellor is said to be a Gentleman of honor, abilities 
and amiable manners, who was at the head of one of the Civil 
Tribunals in St. Domingo, and his Secretary is represented 
in equally favorable colors. 



TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 5 th June 1804. 
Sir. 

It is generally believed as you will observe it stated in the 
Gazette of this day that the Dido and Sybile French Frigates 
are on the point of Sailing, their destination unknown, tho 
supposed to be for some part in France. I have some reason 
however to doubt their leaving this place so immediately, or if 
they should it will be only for a cruize because the provisions 
ordered by the Agent for those ships were not delivered last 
Evening — You will also perceive a statement in this days 
paper that a line of Battle Ship supposed to be the Leander 2 
has been seen off and on this port, I learn this report has been 
circulated in order to detain the Frigates a few days, while 
a Ship bound on a Contraband Trade to S* Domingo made her 
escape from hence. From the Set of the "Winds since I first 

1 Antoiiie Gabriel Venanee Rey unfavorable to the Revolution of the 

was born September 22, 1768. He 18th Brumaire, and so fell into dis- 

entered the French army as a private grace, left the army, and accepted 

in a cavalry regiment some years be- the post of Consul-General to the 

fore the Revolution, obtained acorn- United States. He returned to 

mission in 1791, rose to the rank of France about 1808, reentered the 

General of Brigade iu 1793, and after army, served in Spain with some 

sharing in the defense of Mayence credit, and died in 1836. 

and displaying the greatest vigor 2 Although the Leander played an 

against the Vendeans, was made a important part in the battle of the 

General of Division. He subsequently Nile, she was not, strictly speaking, 

commanded in Italy, where he was a line-of -battle ship. She was rated 

accused of peculation, but was ac- at 50 guns, 
quitted by a court martial. He was 
11 



L62 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

wrote to Sir Andrew Mitchell of tlic arrival of these Ships, it 
is improbable that the Letters have more than reached Halifax 
and impossible he could have sailed from thence and arrived 
off this Port. 



TO VICE-ADMIRAL SIR ANDREW MITCHELL. 

New York 15 th June 1804. 
Sir. 

I have the honor to inform you that the Dido and Sybile 
French Frigates are still in this Port, alth° I suspect they are 
on the point of sailing for France. 

Jerome Bonaparte and his Lady arrived a few days since 
from Baltimore and avow their design of going in one of them 
probably the Dido as she is the best Ship and infinitely the 
fastest. I have done every thing in my power to prevent their 
sailing, by circulating Reports that Ships of your Squadron 
had been seen off in different directions ; and causing persons 
living on the South side of Long Island to say that two Men 
of War generally stood in every Night and soon after day 
light hauled off again. They certainly are much alarmed, and 
as you will sec by the paper inclosed have now two pilot Boats 
out to ascertain the truth. They have lost a number, upwards 
of forty of their men by desertion, and I understand the Crews 
are composed of men of almost every Nation — I was told yes- 
terday by a Person who had it from the pilot, that the Crews 
were not only sickly, but that many within the last week had 
been taken 111 of the small Pox. Should this be the Case, I 
doubt their being able to go to Sea, until they are recovered — 
Their Ships are very dirty and officers and Men under great 
fear of meeting our Men of War. 

TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 18 th June 1804. 

SlK. 

I have the Honor to inform you that His Majestys Ships 
< lambrian and Driver arrived at Staten Island late in the af- 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 163 

ternoon of Saturday last — Yesterday I saw Captain Bradley 
the officer commanding, who informed me he was under orders 
to proceed to sea the first fair wind. — I received late last 
Evening a letter from the Mayor of this City, a copy whereof 
I have the Honor to inclose you, requesting me to detain the 
Cambrian and Driver for twenty four hours after the depar- 
ture of the two French Frigates now in this Port and who are 
ready for Sea. — I have sent Captain Bradley a copy of this 
Mayors letter, but I apprehend he will not feel himself author- 
ized to remain here a moment after it is practicable for his 
Ship to go out of the Hook ; Vice Admiral Sir Andrew Mit- 
chell having directed him to leave this port the first fair Wind, 
and to cruise on this coast for the protection of the Merchants 
Ships belonging to His Majestys Subjects. I wait your direc- 
tions with respect to the answer I am to send to the Mayor. 



TO DE WITT CLINTON. 

New York 18 th June 1804. 
Sir, 

I have the Honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter 
of last Evening, informing me that you had received official 
notice that the Frigates Didon and Cybele belonging to the 
french Republic, and which arrived in this port the 4 th Instant 
intended to Sail with the first fair Wind and requesting me to 
detain His Majestys Ships Cambrian and Sloop of War Driver, 
now also in this port for the space of twenty four hours after 
the departure of the French Frigates. By this days post I 
shall forward copy of your Letter to M r Merry His Majesty's 
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to these 
States, and who is now at Philadelphia, and will on the receipt 
of his answer immediately communicate to you his directions 
on the Subject. I am however apprehensive that Captain 
Bradley the Officer commanding His Majesty's Ship of War 
will not feel himself authorized to comply with any requisition 
either from M r Merry or myself respecting his remaining a 
moment in this port after the Wind will admit of his depar- 



164 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

ture, because his Orders from Vice Admiral Sir Andrew Mit- 
chell direct him to proceed from here on the delivery of his 
Dispatches, on a cruize for the protection of the trade not only 
of his Majesty's Subjects, but of that of the people of these 
States, and which has lately suffered much from the depreda- 
tions of several French Privateers on this Coast. I am led to 
believe the Admiral was induced to send these Ships for the 
above purpose, in consequence of my having transmitted to 
him the copy of a Letter which I lately received from the 
President of the Marine Insurance Company in this City stat- 
ing the Injury the American Commerce had sustained from 
the predatory Corsairs ; and requesting that measures might 
be taken to protect the American as well as British Commerce 
from farther Loss. 1 You will from this Statement naturally 
perceive the urgent necessity Captain Bradley is under to get 
from hence the moment the Pilot will undertake to carry his 
Ship down and as Captain Bradley had communicated his in- 
tentions to me, prior to the receipt of your Letter, I am of 
opinion he is entitled to a preference in point of time as to his 
departure. The French Frigates can avail themselves of the 
first fair Wind after the sailing of His Majesty's Ships. I am 
perfectly Sensible of the delicacy of your situation and that 
of the United States, when Ships of War of contending Na- 
tions enter your friendly Ports ; and it will at all times afford 
me pleasure to lessen as much as lays in my power and the 
good of His Majesty's Service will permit, any embarrassments 
there may occur by the Ships of War of Great Britain and 
France lying at the same time in this Port. 

TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 19 th June, 1804. 
Sir. 

His Majestys Ship Boston arrived yesterday afternoon at 
Sandy Hook — In consequence of Captain Bradleys answer to 

1 An extract from this letter hav- the insurance company, wrote to Col- 

ing been published in the newspa- onel Barclay contradicting the as- 

Mr. Neilson, the president of sertion that protection to American 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 1G5 

Hie on the subject of the Mayors requisition that His Majestys 
Frigates might be detained in this port for the Space of twenty 
four hours after the sailing of the French Frigates with the 
first fair Wind, that he could not comply being under orders 
to go to Sea immediately — The Wardens of the Port have is- 
sued an inhibition to the Pilots to carry out either of His 
Majestys Ships, a copy of this order I have the Honor to in- 
close — I have to in treat you will give me your advice and 
directions on this point. 



TO CAPTAIN BRADLEY, H. M. S. CAMBRIAN. 

New York 19 th June 1804. 
Sir. 

The inclosed letter of complaint has this moment been deliv- 
ered to me — You will observe that the Mayor considers your 
boarding the Ship Pitt and impressing from on board that Ves- 
sel 18 Men, as an act of illegal violence committed within the 
Jurisdiction of the United States. 1 He also complains of the 
officers of your ship having obstructed the Lieutenant of the 
Revenue Cutter and the Health Physician from doing their 
duty ; and adds that he has transmitted a statement of facts 
to the Government of the United States, in order that they 
may take the necessary measures. — I consider it necessary 
that you and the officers of your ship make a candid represen- 
tation of the transaction in order that I may lay the same be- 
fore His Majestys Minister Plenipotentiary to these States, 
who naturally will receive a letter of complaint from the 
American Secretary of State. — 

I am of opinion that you ought not to have boarded the Ship 
or impressed any men out of her. — Having said this it follows 

commerce had been asked. Barclay 1 The Pitt was a British vessel, 

admitted his mistake (see letter of and was boarded and searched in 

Sept. 7, 1804, below), but the errone- the lower bay by boats from the 

ous assertion has been perpetuated Cambrian. The details of this no- 

to this day. McMaster's Hist, of the torious affair fully appear below. 
U. S., Vol. Ill, p. 246. 

11A 



166 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

that the men should be restored. What renders this measure 
the more necessary is that the Quarantine Officer will not de- 
liver the Ship Pitt to the Captain until he musters on board of 
her all the men who navigated that Vessel. — For your security 
and my own satisfaction I have taken the opinion of a very 
able law character in this City, well attached to our Govern- 
ment, who agrees in sentiment with me. — The Language made 
use of by some of your officers to the Lieutenant of the Reve- 
nue Cutter was to say the least highly indecorous — Captain 
Campbell of the Ship Pitt will deliver you this letter, my 
advice to you is that the men are delivered up to him. 



TO VICE-ADMIRAL SIR ANDREW MITCHELL. 

New York 22" June 1804. 
Sir. 

His Majestys Ships Cambrian and Driver arrived in this 
port on this day week, and Captain Bradley unfortunately 
came up to Staten Island very near to the French Frigates 
before I knew of his arrival. Early on the following morning 
I went on board the Cambrian, and recommended his dropping 
down and coming to an anchor without the Bar and beyond 
the Jurisdiction of these States, being apprehensive attempts 
would be made to detain His Majestys Ships until the de- 
parture of the French. The Wind at the time was so much a 
head that the Pilots declined taking charge of them. On my 
return that evening to town I received an application from the 
Mayor of this City requesting the detention of the Cambrian 
and Driver for twenty four hours after the sailing of the 
French Frigates; provided they departed with the first fair 
Wind. In reply I informed him that I would lay his request 
before M r Merry his Majestys Minister Plenipotentiary and 
wait his directions, and added that I was apprehensive Captain 
Bradley, to whom I should transmit a copy of his, the Mayors, 
led it; would not feel himself authorized to comply with the 
request, having your orders to proceed to Sea, on the delivery 
<>!' your dispatches. On Monday the Pilots received by order 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 1G7 

of the Mayor an injunction from the Port Wardens a copy 
whereof I now inclose — On that day also Captain Douglass 
arrived at Sandy Hook with His Majesty s Ship Boston, and 
the next morning the Cambrian and Driver altho' the Wind 
was a head went down and anchored near the Boston. The 
French Frigates had unmoored in the hope that a want of 
Pilots would prevent His Majestys Ship from getting to Sea, 
but when they perceived them in motion they desisted, and 
about noon came up nearer to this City where they now lay. — 
It is suspected they will attempt a passage through Hell 
Gate and the Sound. But I cannot yield to this opinion from 
the many difficulties attending it, and from the certainty that 
our Ships will always have ample time to meet them to the 
Eastward. Their only chance would be to go to Newport 
Rhode Island, and thence wait a favorable moment. — Bona- 
parte had embarked with his Lady and baggage on board the 
Didon, and both the Ships would have gone to sea the first 
Wind, had not the Cambrian and Driver arrived. Such how- 
ever were the apprehensions of the french, that for several 
days preceding they had officers in two Pilot Boats to the 
Eastward and Southward of the Hook on the lookout. — If 
you should resolve to watch their motions, I fear it will prove 
a tedious blockade. They never will stir while our ships are 
in sight, and I am led to believe the French Officers are not 
over anxious to return to France. Their Agent pleasantly re- 
marked a day or two since that he would recommend their 
being laid up, and providing quarters for the Men during the 
succeeding Winter. — I have strongly urged Captain Bradley 
to remove from Sandy Hook Bay his present situation, with- 
out the Bar and at least a league from the Shore, to prevent 
future complaints of a violation of neutral rights. — This re- 
mark leads me to a painful and serious subject, on the Even- 
ing of Sunday the 17 th Instant the British Ship Pitt from 
Greenoch arrived at Staten Island, which is the quarantine 
Ground — On her approach she was boarded by the Cambri- 
ans Boats, brought to an anchor and fourteen Men impressed 
from her. While the Cambrians Boats were thus employed 
the officers of the Revenue and Health officer came alongside 



1G8 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

of the Pitt to examine her, but they were prevented by the of- 
ficers aud men of the Cambrian. — The next day I received a 
letter from the Mayor on the subject, a copy whereof I have 
the Honor to inclose. — You will perceive he has transmitted a 
copy to his Government, and I have made M r Merry acquainted 
with the facts. Captain Bradley assuredly has acted impru- 
dently — It was my wish that the men should have been re- 
stored, in which event every other matter might have been got 
over, but in this particular he declines complying with my ad- 
vice. The consequence is that the Pitt remains at the Quar- 
antine Ground because the Health Officer will not muster the 
Ships company until these men are returned or give a certifi- 
cate to entitle her to an entry. On the first of July an addi- 
tional duty of 2 1 / 2 per Cent takes place, to which the cargo of 
the Pitt will be liable unless entered previous to that day, and 
I fear I shall not hear from M r Merry in time to prevent this 
inconvenience and expense. — I regret these untoward circum- 
stances, particularly as the accident has happened to a char- 
acter attached to His Majesty. — 



TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 23 d June 1804. 
Sir 

I yesterday received a letter from M r Thornton dated at 
Philadelphia wherein he informs me of his having received at 
that place my letters N os 14, 15 and 16 addressed to you, that 
he had opened them, and forwarded them to you at Washing- 
ton, where you still remain owing to bad weather and worse 
roads, and where you would at least continue until the begin- 
ning of July. — 

With this I have the Honor to inclose you copies of Captain 
Bradleys letters to me of the 20 th and 21 st current, and a cer- 
tificate of the officers of His Majesty s Ship Cambrian who 
boarded the Ship Pitt on Sunday last to impress men. This 
certificate is intended as a reply to the affidavit of the Lieuten- 
ant of the Revenue Cutter, who has deposed that some of the 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 109 

officers of the Cambrian, cursed him and damned the Revenue 
Laws. 

I sincerely regret that Captain Bradley brought the Cam- 
brian and Driver within the Jurisdiction of these States, and 
particularly that he came up to the Quarantine Ground within 
half a mile of the French Frigates. The instant I was ap- 
prised of it, I went down and begged him to drop without the 
Hook the moment the Wind would allow — I have also the 
Honor to inclose you a copy of my letter to the Mayor in an- 
swer to his letter requesting the detention of His Majestys 
Ships for twenty four hours after the departure of the French 
Frigates, provided they sailed the first fair Wind. I trust you 
will approve of what I have done, and of the Ships going 
down to the Hook notwithstanding the Mayors letters to me, 
or the prohibition of the Port Wardens to the Pilots. His 
Majestys ships were taken down by their own officers and at a 
very great risque. — The strong measures taken by the Mayor 
are I consider as wholly extra official, and pertaining only to 
the general executive Government of these States ; and I am 
also of opinion that as Captain Bradley had signified his in- 
tention of departing to me, many hours before I received the 
letter of requisition from the Mayor, that he was entitled to a 
preference iu point of departure to the French Frigates. Had 
the French Ships by accident got under way and passed the 
Cambrian and Driver I should have held it an infraction of the 
laws of neutrality for our Ships to have followed them, and 
had strongly impressed this on the mind of Captain Brad- 
ley. — The British Ships are at anchor within the Hook, the 
French as near this as the Laws will permit. I have point- 
edly recommended to Captain Bradley his going without the 
Jurisdiction of these States, and hope whenever wind and 
weather will permit that he will do it — 

It is with pain that I am under the necessity of informing 
you that he declines complying with my advice to return the 
impressed men. By the Laws of these States the officers of 
the Customs cannot enter a ship, until she is regularly in- 
spected by the health officer and has a certificate. The health 
officers refuse to examine the Ship until all the persons are on 



170 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

board who came in her. She therefore remains at the Quar- 
antine Ground, and must continue there, until either Captain 
Bradley returns the men, or you obtain an order from the 
American Government for the Ship Pitt being admitted to an 
entry — You will perceive that one of the two ought to be 
done without loss of time, because in addition to every other 
inconvenience and expense attending demurrage, the preva- 
lence of the yellow fever before the departure of the Pitt 
might prove a very serious obstruction to her return to 
Greenoch. I shall address my letters to you until further 
order to Washington. 



TO CAPTAIN BRADLEY. 

New York 23 d June 1804. 

I received the inclosed Letter from Philadelphia which I 
have the honor to inclose you. It comes from a Gentleman 
on whom every dependance can be placed, and may operate as 
a clue to useful discoveries, because it is probable Jerome Bo- 
naparte will carry with him dispatches from the french Min- 
ister, all his own private correspondence his Journals and re- 
marks. I have reason to believe his being made a prisoner by 
the Officers of His Majesty's Navy would be considered an 
agreeable circumstance by the Government. Should any 
Vessel proceed without documents from me you may rest 
assured there is great cause for particular search and almost 
a certainty of his being on board. The Trunk so particularly 
described in the Letter inclosed may be deep in the hold or 
else where concealed, but the mulatto Boy and Baboon are 
sure prognostics by which you may know his being on board. 
You will recollect his Lady goes with him, I should be sorry 
he escaped us, and I know their utmost cunning will be ex- 
erted to do this. — On Monday I hope it will be in my power 
to give you additional Marks by which you may develop this 
man. I think I shall have knowledge of every motion he 
makes. The niarshall of the District court called on me 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 171 

about two O Clock P. M. this day and told me he had process 
against one of your Officers — I advised him to be cautious 
how he approached your Ship, and after some further Conver- 
sation I promised him a letter to you, which letter I inclosed 
to Captain Douglass and desired him to take it on board the 
Boston, and let Captain Douglass communicate the purport of 
his Business to you — I have this moment had my letters re- 
turned as he declined going to the Boston before he ap- 
proached your Ship, and he is gone down — I hope Nothing 
unpleasant may occur, because I am certain he means well, 
and to offer no Insult. — The sooner you get beyond the Ju- 
risdiction of these States by anchoring more than a League 
from the Hook, the better, but while you remain where I left 
you, every day will produce some unpleasant circumstance. 
It is hinted to me that the French Frigates intend attempting 
their way through Hell Gate and the Sound. If they do you 
shall have early Notice, and your laying over the Bar will en- 
able you always to go to Sea. The attempt to Serve process 
on your officers through the Marshall of the District Court, is 
ample proof of the intention of the Mayor and other officers 
of the Government in this City. — It is a measure I trust 
which will meet the disapprobation of the American Govern- 
ment. — Let me beg you to admit no one alongside of your 
Ship, but he who has a letter from me, and then not until you 
have first read the Letter. When the Boats also come down 
with your Beef or Water, have them examined before they are 
permitted alongside of your Ship, too much caution cannot be 
used. I should not after your determination again touch on 
the Subject of the Seamen impressed from the Pitt, did I not 
apprehend that you are ignorant that on the first of July an 
additional duty of two and an half per Cent will attach on all 
Merchandize entered at the Customs in this City. — This the 
Freighters of the Pitt will have to pay, unless she is entered 
before that day — The more I reflect on the measures of Sun- 
day last respecting the Pitt, the more I am confirmed in my 
opinion already expressed to you by Letter, that Prudence 
and Propriety dictate your restoring the men. — M r Merry 
has been prevented leaviiig Washington, to this circumstance 



172 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

the not having answers to my Letters is to be attributed — 
To morrow I shall certainly hear from him. 



TO MR. MERRY. 

New York, 28 th June 1804. 
Sir. 

I have not yet had the Satisfaction to receive an answer 
from you to my Letters. I attribute this to the State of the 
roads and Bridges rendered by the late violent rains as I am 
informed impassable. 

By a Clause in the Laws of the United States, a Penalty of 
four hundred Dollars is laid on any person who shall be con- 
victed of obstructing the officers of the Revenue in their duty. 
Under this Act the Judge of the District Court of the United 
States for the State of New York, has granted a warrant or 
attachment against Lieu' Pigot of His Majesty's Ship Cam- 
brian, and the Marshal went down on Saturday last to serve 
it. Captain Bradley received the Marshal, but the process 
was not served, owing to M r Pigot not being ou board the 
Ship. I understand the Marshall intends making another at- 
tempt, of which I have given Capt n Bradley Notice — I shall 
make no comment on these measures. 

The British Ship Pitt from whom the men were impressed, 
has at last been released from Quarantine and admitted to an 
Entry — Captain Bradley has not however returned the Men, 
and the Americans are very warm on this infringement within 
their territory. 

TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 30 th June 1804. 

(Private.) 
Dear Sir — 

I could have wished that you had expressed yourself in 
stronger terms in your letter to me of the 25 Instant, respect- 
ing the necessity and policy of Captain Bradleys returning the 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 173 

men taken from the Pitt, because it certainly is the only im- 
proper act intentionally committed by him and his officers in 
this unpleasant affair, and I have reason to hope that on the 
restoration of the men, and a full assurance on the part of 
Captain Bradley and his Officers that if the Revenue and 
health officers were obstructed by them in the execution of their 
duty, it was owing to the opposition they met with from the 
Passengers on board the Pitt, and that they are sorry for it — 
Should you agree in opinion with me that the impressment was 
illegal, having been made in the Port of New York, permit me 
to request you will urge the restoring of the men in your next 
letter — Captain Bradley is nearly complete in his Ships 
company. 

With all def erance to your opinion, allow me to say, that let 
the deficiency of His Majestys Ships with respect to men have 
been ever so great, it is not a justification for the impressing 
of men within the Jurisdiction of this State, because by these 
means their naval powers would be increased, a measure inad- 
missible in a neutral port ; and contrary to the Laws of Na- 
tions — Captain Bradley s answer therefore on this point, I 
trust will be considered by you as irrelevant ; and of course 
that you will not urge the argument with the Secretary of 
State at Washington — You will pardon me for the Liberty I 
take in giving you my Sentiments. 

Should you however differ in opinion with me, and think 
proper to urge the necessity of the measure, you may to 
strengthen your position remark that when the french repub- 
lican Ship Ambuscade some years since was in this port and 
prepared to go out to meet His Majestys Ship Boston, that she 
was publicly permitted by the Governor of this State and 
Mayor of New York to increase her establishment of men at 
least one third, by recruiting seamen in this port for that pur- 
pose, and that no notice was ever taken of it by the American 
Government — After the action, the Ambuscade returned into 
this port, and then extra Seamen were discharged. 1 I shall con- 
tinue to address my letters to you at Washington until further 

1 The action took place off Long Branch, August 1, 1793. An account 
of it will be found in McMaster's Hist, of the U.S., Vol. II, p. 123. 



174 ooKKF.sroNm'.xci; of tuomas BARCLAY 

notice — The freneh Frigates have Cut new Sails and taken 
nil. ms on beard — still I fear they have no intention of going 
ou t, — Strong suspicions have been entertained that Botiaparte 
would embark for Nantz on hoard the Brig Rolla — of this 
Captains Bradley and Douglass have notice, with ample 
private information respecting baggage and other incidental 
minutia. 

TO VICE-ADMIRAL SIR AXDKKW MITCHELL. 

Now York ;?•' July I SI) I. 

Sir. 

I yesterday had the honor to receive your private letter of 
the 8 th and your public letter of the tenth of June — Eerewith 
is a certificate from me on the points you requested respecting 
the blockade of Martinique, which 1 trust will prove satisfac- 
tory. Every measure in my power was taken immediately 
on the arrival of the French Frigates to give you the earliest 
Notice, but the easterly winds continued without intermission 
for ten days immediately after their arrival — Captain Lyall's 
rfteeting with the American Ship Mary was very fortunate, I 
regret he did not detain the french Prisoners because from his 
Statement, their conduct was more than suspicious. 

My letter to you of the 22 a <>f June did not get down to 
Sandy Hook in time for the Driver, I mention this circum- 
stance because you naturally must be surprized at not hearing 
from me by so direct a conveyance — The Ship Pitt has been 
admitted to an entry; but the American Government are 
warmly complaining to His Majestys Minister of the infrac- 
tion of the Laws of Neutrality and violation of their own Laws 
by Captain Bradley and his officers — M 1 Merry has also 
strongly remonstrated against the violent and illegal measures 
of the Mayor and Port Wardens by inhibiting the Pilots from 
taking His Majestys Ships to Sea, — A Warrant has issued 
against Lieu' Pigot from the district, Court of the United 
States \\>r obstructing the Revenue officer in the Execution of 
his duty — On Friday last, 1 as His Majestys Ship Boston was 

i Tli<> 29th of June. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, L803-1804 17.") 

working out fco Sea tiaving a Pilot on board, she look the 
ground (by shooting too far ahead as the Pilot says in his 
Justification in going about) — It was fortunately low Water, 
and she again Bloated in a little more, than an hour, without 
sustaining the least injury — This accident was particularly 
unfortunate, bavin g acquainted Captain Bradley of the sailing 
of the American Brig Rolla, in which I had reason to believe 
two of* Bonapartes Servants, were, and did embark with dis- 
patches and probably properly — The Etolla went, to Sea while 
the Boston was aground — The Boston has been ever since 
cruizing off and on this Port, and the Cambrian has probably 
tfonc out to join her this day — The french Frigates have ( !ut 
new sails, and taken Pilots on board, still there is no appear- 
ance of their going out — Their friends suggest that as these 
Ships were charged with a, secret mission to the, French Min- 
ister to these States, and have now his dispatches on board — 
they would not be justified in risquingan action — a miserable 
subterfuge. 

Captain Lyall on hiswayfrom this impressed some Seamen, 
amongst whom is a, man named Robert Kelly, who I under- 
■:! and is an uncommon fine Seaman and a, respectable man — He 
is from Ireland — His Wife who appears a very decent Woman 
applied to me, to endeavor to effect his discharge — This I re- 
fused; she then begged I would inlrcat you to permit lee to 
come to her husband — I was so pleased with the manners and 
appearance of the Woman that I assured her I would request 
for her this indulgence; if therefore you can with convenience 
transfer this man to your flag ship and permit her to come on 
board you will do me a, favor — She is accustomed to the Sea, 
and has been more, than a year on board with him. 



TO CAPTAIN BEADLEY. 

New York 25''' July 1H04 
Mv dear Sir. 

Your letter of yesterday with a dispatch for M r Merry 1 re- 
ceived early this Morning from Peacock's Man — The latter 



17G CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

will go to Philadelphia where M r Merry now is by this day's 
Post. — Since my last to you, I have consulted with Daniels, 
formerly the oldest and most experienced Pilot for this Port, 
but who has been dismissed for his attachment to Great Brit- 
ain, as I before mentioned to you. He agrees with me that 
the only sure method to give you at all times early Notice in 
the Event of the French Frigates going through Hell Grate, 
will be to have Stevenson below the Narrows between Coney 
and Long Island where he can lay in safety. — No one need 
know his business, and he can go and return every tide from 
Quarter flood to Low Water, because the French Ships if 
they intend passing Hell Gate must get under way the last of 
the Ebb, so as to be at Hell Gate at slack Water, or if there is 
a fresh Westerly Breese it is most safe for them to pass that 
place the very last of the Ebb. — Thus Stevenson may be 
away eight or nine hours every day and all Night, of conse- 
quence he can continue to pass from you to me, so that no ad- 
ditional expense will be incurred. — You can consider of this 
and resolve on what you think best. — I am promised the ear- 
liest Notice should they ship Pilots for Hell Gate : still it may 
so happen that I may be disappointed. — Everything appears 
very quiet amongst them. 

The Complaints against the officers of His Majestys Ships 
under your Command you will observe are now become the 
Subject of National Enquiry. A Regular Complaint lias been 
made by the American Secretary of State to M r Merry His 
Majesty's Representative to these States, who from your an- 
swer, will make a reply to the Charges, and will naturally 
transmit Copies to Lord Harrowby the Minister for foreign 
affairs. — In saying that I hoped you would not again come up 
above the Narrows, I assuredly alluded to the avoiding any 
more Complaints that might be made in consequence of an- 
other application to detain His Majesty's Ships until the 
French had sailed: and I confess it is with Reluctance that I 
understand from your letter you intend coming within the 
Hook to Water. — The American Government ah-eady charge 
His Majesty's Ships with hovering on their Coasts, with a 
view of capturing Ships of other Nations in alliance with 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 177 

them. Your coming in and going out will confirm the Charge. 
The Weather is so very fine I should suppose you might be 
watered over the Bar, from the Schooner that last watered 
Cap* Douglass. — I merely suggest this, you are the only and 
best Judge. I will see the man and either hire him, or a large 
Vessel for you and send her down whenever you order it. At 
all events she may go out and take your Empty Casks. — Let 
me know the day you wish her sent down, how many casks 
you have to fill. 

TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 13th July 1804 
Sir. 

I have the Honor to inclose to you, a copy of Captain Brad- 
leys letter to me of yesterday in answer to mine in which 
I forwarded to him an extract from your letter to me — What 
Captain Bradley notices respecting the conduct of the officers 
of the French Ship of War Poursivant in the Chesepeak, I sus- 
pect is correct, having not long since seen a very particular 
statement of the Facts in a paper from Norfolk in Virginia — 
M r Moore communicated to me, the cause of your present de- 
tention at Baltimore — I regret the accident, as you will not 
find it easy to replace the loss of a good coachman in Amer- 
ica — By the public papers you will be informed of the unfor- 
tunate death of General Hamilton, one of the most respectable 
characters in these States, and a gentleman of eminent Tal- 
ents 1 — I consider him even as a loss to His Majesty and our 
Government, from the prudence of his measures, his conciliat- 
ing disposition, his abhorence of the French Revolution, and 
all republican principles and doctrine, and his very great at- 
tachment to the British Government — The cause of the duel 
originated in General Hamilton having repeatedly and pub- 
lickly expressed his opinion of M r Burr ; particularly at the 
late election for Governor of this State, and his endeavoring 
to dissuade the Federalists from co operating iu favor of M r 
Burrs election. 
1 The duel was fought on the 11th, and Hamilton died on the 12th of July. 

12 



178 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 18" 1 July 1804. 
Sir 

Your letter of the 10 th Current, I received this morning', to- 
gether with a copy of a letter from the American Secretary of 
State to you under date of the 7 th Instant. Copies of these are 
now making and will be forwarded this Evening or tomorrow 
morning to Captain Bradley of His Majestys Ship Cambrian 
and Cap* Douglass of the Boston — It will not however be in 
their power to reply before I possess them with the remainder 
of the Documents you was from want of time prevented send- 
ing to me. 

The Driver went to Sea on the 24 th of June, the instant it 
was advisable for any ship to go out after the 19 th from which 
day to the 24 it had blowed a gale from the Eastward, not a 
ship of any description had put to Sea in the interval. It is 
possible in her way off the Coast, she may have boarded several 
vessels, and impressed some men — The facts Vice Admiral Sir 
Andrew Mitchell will enquire into and every man not a sub- 
ject of His Majesty will be discharged — But the charge of the 
Driver hovering on the confines of these States is incorrect — 
She most assuredly proceeded with all reasonable expedition 
to the place of her destination, Halifax — On her passage and 
near this place she met the young Factor and Diligence Ships 
from Ireland from whom she took some subjects of His Ma- 
jesty. If any Americans were impressed through mistake they 
will be restored — From an intimate knowledge of Captain 
Lyall I can safely assure you, it was not done intentionally — 
you may safely, Sir, assure the American Secretary of State, 
that His Majestys Captains are very delicate on this Subject. 
I have never heard nor do I believe that either of His Majes- 
ty's Ships the Cambrian, Boston, or Driver boarded any ship 
or vessel from their arrival within the Jurisdiction of these 
States to the Day of their Departure the British Ship Pitt ex- 
cepted. Neither have I heard of their boarding and inrpress- 
iii^- any men from Ships outward bound, even beyond the Ju- 
risdiction of these States which to them was lawful and if any 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 179 

of the men on board were Subjects of His Majesty to take 
them from thence. 

While the three Ships lay in Sandy Hook bay, they did not 
intermeddle with any vessel coming in or going out The 
Driver being only a Sloop of War went to sea on the 24 th June 
at a moment when the two large Ships could not. In the 
same manner the Boston a ship of three and an half feet less 
water than the Cambrian went to Sea on the 30 th of June 
when it was impracticable for the Pilot to take the Cambrian 
out — you will however recollect, that the day before from 
anxiety to get out the Boston made an Attempt with the Wind 
ahead, and took the Ground — On the 3 rd July the Cambrian 
went to Sea — It is unnecessary for me to notice the remark 
made by the Secretary of State, that the Port of New York is 
virtually blockaded by our Ships — They are far beyond the 
Jurisdiction of the United States of America, where the Sea 
appertains to His Majesty in common with all other Nations 
— French and Dutch Ships resort to these Ports, and at times 
french Ships of War and Privateers. The Protection of His 
Majesty's Subjects and the Service require that these should 
be captured — American Ships navigated by Americans or 
men of any other Nation save British Subjects pass our Ships 
of War without molestation — At this moment the Americans 
have one hundred British Seamen in their Service, for every 
American by accident impressed on board His Majesty's Ships 
of War, and I aver the fact that a great proportion of the 
Crews of the American Frigates are Subjects of His Majes- 
ty's. It is also a matter of Notoriety that Certificates of Cit- 
izenship (commonly called Protections) are issued to English, 
Irish, and Scotch men, many of whom have not been a month 
in these States. 

TO CAPTAIN BEADLEY. 

Now Yoi-k 22' 1 July 1804. 

Sir, 

When I communicated to you the possibility of the French 
Frigates attempting a passage through Hellgate to avoid an 



180 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

action with His Majestys Ships under your command, and of 
the means of giving you notice in such an event, I calculated 
on the least possibly favorable moment on our part, when the 
attempt could be made, and under these circumstances stated 
that it might take from ten to eighteen hours. This was un- 
der an impression that you might be four or five leagues with- 
out the Hook. I am still of opinion that with a gale from the 
Southwest and the very first of the tide of flood, those ships 
will be under weigh, many hours before I can give you notice. 
A Pilot Boat with the wind from that quarter can make no 
head way against the tide : nor can a cutter or row boat do 
much better, particularly after they get below the narrows 
and have a heavy sea or swell to obstruct them. In calcula- 
tions of every kind, it is most safe to take the worst that can 
happen — ordinarily it is probable the notice could be con- 
veyed to you in eight hours at farthest. 

On my part you may rest assured of every attention to their 
motions, and of my using the best means to give you the ear- 
liest notice. They have been up in their barges, and sounded 
Hellgate, on their return they expressed their opinion of the 
difficulty of the navigation. I am therefore rather of opinion 
that they will not hazard it — One of the most experienced 
Pilots assures me it is an hundred to one but they get on there 
in the attempt. 

The best manner to be adopted, will be to have Stevenson 
with his boat laying below the Narrows, with an officer from 
one of your ships always with him : at every slack tide during 
the day he can take a look at the Ships, and if they are not in 
motion go down with letters from me to you, or bring back 
dispatches from you, so as to be at his station before the next 
low water. This will be the best mode because below the nar- 
rows there is but little tide to obstruct a boat. I would not 
however have the boat to go down to you when the french 
Ships get under way: from the improbability of their being 
able to get through Hell gate, but to wait my orders. I will 
immediately cross to long Island and watch their motions ; 
the instant they are through Hellgate, ride express to the 
Narrows and dispatch the boat to you. This cannot take 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 181 

more than an hour from the time they pass Hellgate. If you 
approve of the plan, let me know, send up an officer, and I 
will go and station them. Let the officer be dressed either in 
plain cloth, or as an ordinary seaman to prevent suspicion. 

You must not think of again coming above the narrows — 
From private letters dated at Balltown Springs about 190 
Miles up the Hudson river, Jerome Bonaparte and his Lady 
were there a few days since — I cannot therefore think they 
have it in contemplation to attempt an escape -still they 
may, their measures are very secret. 



TO ADMIRAL SIR ANDREW MITCHELL. 

g IR New York 1 st August 1804. 

The boat which returned this morning from the Cambrian 
brought me your letter of the 18 th of July, and another from 
Captain Skene announcing his arrival off Sandy Hook in His 
Majestys Ship Leauder. I am happy to learn that Captain 
Bradleys conduct meets your approbation. He is a very 
worthy, zealous officer and a gentleman for whom I have a 
sincere regard. I am however apprehensive you are under a 
mistake in supposing the officers commanding ships of War of 
belligerent Powers, having a right in a neutral Port to board 
ships of their own nation and to impress men from them. 
But this is a point for M r Merry to maintain with the American 
Government, and unnecessary for me to discuss with you. I 
shall only add that I am clear His Majestys ministers will 
coincide with me. The conduct of French 'ships of War in 
this Port and in Virginia, may be used as a collateral argu- 
ment in defence of Captain Bradleys measure; but never in jus- 
tification — because two Wrongs will not make one right— I am 
rather apprehensive you have been misinformed respecting the 
"French Frigates now in this Port having boarded a French 
Schooner or Brig and impressed the whole of the crew." On 
an enquiry, all that I could learn, was that they had taken 
from a French Vessel four men, who they stated to have de- 



182 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

serted from them — The Conduct however of the Poursuivant 
this year, and of the Semilante two or three years since in the 
Chesepeak was shamefully outrageous, and I have possessed 
M r Merry of the facts to be used as an offset to the complaints 
of the French Minister against the Ships under your command 
now off this Port. 

I have heretofore stated to you that the conduct of the Mayor 
and Port Wardens of this place was in my opinion violent, il- 
legal, and highly expressive of their partiality to the French ; 
and I have represented their measures in that point of view 
to M r Merry and Lord Hawkesbury. Allow me however to 
answer the two Questions in your Letter — 1 st , Why was not 
the Pilots taken from the French Frigates who was of superior 
force to the British? Answer — Because no requisition was 
made on the part of the Officers of His Majesty s Ships for 
this purpose. I am rather inclined to believe that under 
similar circumstances, on application on the part of His 
Majesty to the American Government, an order would have 
issued inhibiting of French ships of War sailing until 24 
hours had elapsed from the sailing of British Ships. I have 
in several instances made such an application in favor of 
Montreal ships to have Privateers detained, and always met a 
ready compliance. 

2 d — Had any accident happened to the Pitt, who would the 
Master have applied to for assistance, the Mayor of New York, 
or the British Frigates 1 Answer. Undoubtedly to the Com- 
mander of the Frigates — I do not however see that this 
answer will in the least lead to a justification of Captain Brad- 
leys conduct — On the part of Captain Campbell of the Pitt, 
there was no complaint against Captain Bradley, all he 
wanted was his ship to be admitted to an entry — he over 
and again said to Captain Bradley, if that could be effected 
he cared not for the men, because he supposed the greater 
part would leave him. It is the United States who complain 
of an infringement of their Laws within their Jurisdiction. 
Accept my best thanks for your complying with my request 
to take Robert Kelly on board your ship, I shall write Captain 
Keen respecting his wife who I beheve a very decent woman. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 183 

In the Brig Jefferson sent to Halifax for adjudication, Cap- 
tain Bradley sent as part of the prize crew, a man named Bil- 
lings, who has been proved to Captain Bradley to be an Ameri- 
can — I intreat you will have the goodness to order him to be 
discharged — in addition to eveiy other reason, I am preju- 
diced in his favor from there having been no application to 
the American Government for his release, but only to me. 

It is with much regret I inform you of the capture of His 
Majestys Ship Lilly, aud the death of Captain Compton and 
the first Lieutenant. The inclosed packet from Consul Ham- 
ilton will give you the particulars. 1 



TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 10 th August 1804 
Sir. 

Captain Skene of His Majestys Ship Leander on Saturday 
the 4 th Current boarded some Leagues from Sandy Hook the 
American Ship Eugenia John Mansfield Master from Bour- 
deaux to New York. On examining the Ship and her papers 
he was satisfied that Enemies property was on board. Under 
this conviction he took possession of the Ship put a prize 
Master and Seamen on board and ordered her for Halifax in 
Nova Scotia for trial in the Court of Vice Admiralty in that 
port. In consequeuce of Easterly Winds and the State of the 
Ships sails the prize master was obliged to come to an anchor 
under Fisher's Island near New London Light House ; John 
Mansfield the late Master and Robert Parry the mate of the 
Eugenia who had been permitted by Captain Skene to remain 

1 The Lilly was captured on July The Freuch had the evening before 

15, 1804, off the Carolina coast, by a captured an English ship from Af- 

Freuch privateer. Captain Cotnp- rica to Charleston with slaves, which 

ton and the first lieutenant were the Frenchman took out, and gave 

killed early in the action, and the the ship to her crew and that of the 

Lilly was afterward carried by Lilly." The two Euglish crews, with 

boarding. The New-York Gazette the captured slave-ship, reached 

of July 30 adds, "The French had Norfolk some days after the action. 
180 to 200 men, the Lilly about 78. 



184 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

on board that ship, to see that there was no embezzlement of 
the cargo, improperly left the Ship, went on shore at New 
London collected a number of persons, armed them and them- 
selves, and in a fast sailing sloop over took the Eugenia, 
boarded her by violence, took possession of her, turned the 
prize master and British Seamen on Shore at New London, 
and proceeded immediately to New York where she arrived 
late on the Evening of the 8 th Instant. The ship was yester- 
day admitted to an entry — 

At four oClock yesterday afternoon M r Yates the Prize Mas- 
ter arrived in this City and stated the above facts. I have 
taken his affidavit, herewith inclosed, to enable you, Sir, to 
make a proper representation to the American Government of 
this illegal act of violence and piracy committed by Citizens of 
these States. 

I have transmitted to the Collector and Naval Officer of this 
Port a copy of M r Yeat's affidavit, and requested them to de- 
mand all the original papers of the Eugenia from M r Patrick 
the owner and John Mansfield the Master, and to take imme- 
diate possession of the Ship and prevent any part of her cargo 
being taken out or removed until they receive orders from 
M r Madison the American Secretary of State. 

I forbear making any comments on this outrageous act on 
the part of Captain Mansfield, his Mate and others, and trust 
on a representation from you, that the American Government 
will take such measures as justice and a wish to preserve the 
present good understanding which subsist between His Maj- 
esty and the United States of America require. 



TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 14 August 1804 
Sir, 

It was not in my power to give you more information re- 
specting the American Ship Eugenia than on the tenth of this 
month, because she did not arrive until late in the Evening of 
the 8 th , on the ninth there were many contradictory reports in 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 185 

circulation respecting her escape, to not any of which the 
least credit, could attach. I therefore waited the arrival of 
the prize Master, and lost not a moment to give you his State- 
ment under oath — 

Captain Skene of His Majestys Ship Leander pressed a Brit- 
ish Seaman from the American Ship Swift, Murphy Master — 
He also has taken one British Seaman, and fifteen Irish Emi- 
grants from the American Ship Live Oak, but both these 
ships were far beyond the line of demarcation, a League from 
Shore. — Indeed the Live Oak was subject to heavy pains and 
penalties for bringing out more men, than by her Tonage she 
was entitled by act of Parliament. I know of no other im- 
pressments : but I have this day written to Captain Bradley 
acquainting him, that I have fortunately suppressed the pub- 
lication of the affidavits of three Masters of Ships, who de- 
posed that they had been boarded from the Leander withiu 
three miles of the Shore, and I have requested him to prevent 
in future a similar breach of neutrality. 



TO ADMIRAL SIR ANDREW MITCHELL. 

New York 14 August 1804 
Sir. 

As it is uncertain that the Letters from Capt" Bradley and 
Captain Skene will arrive in time to go by this conveyance, 
and you ma,y be anxious to know the particulars of the case of 
the American ship Eugenia, John Mansfield Master from Bour- 
deaux to New York, detained by Captain Skene on the 4 In- 
stant and ordered to Halifax, I have the Honor to communi- 
cate the following facts collected from the testimony of M r 
Yeates the Prize Master — 

On the 4 th of August M r Yeates Master's Mate, M r Masters 
Midshipman 8 Seamen and two marines were sent by Captain 
Skene from the Leander on board the Eugenia, with orders to 
M r Yates the prize Master to take that Ship to Halifax Nova 
Scotia. Light Winds and those from the Eastward, together 
with the miserable situation of the Eugenia in sails, pre- 



186 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

vented M r Yeates getting to the South East so as to double 
Nantucket Shoals; and finding himself near to the Eastern- 
most part of Long Island he resolved to go over the Shoals. 
On the 6 th he took a Pilot on board for that purpose, but the 
Wind soon after coming to E S E blowing fresh, with thick 
hazy weather, and being unable on either tack to weather the 
laud, by the advice of the Pilot he bore away for Fisher's 
Island, and anchored about a mile from the New London 
Light House. — Captain Mansfield and his mate who had been 
sent in the Ship for Halifax, made their escape from her on the 
7 th Instant while M r Yeates was below, and went on shore, 
where they hired an armed Banditte to retake the Ship, and 
came out from New London in a sloop for that purpose. 
Suspicious of this, and the Wind having changed a few 
points, M r Yeates had cut his cable and got under way, and 
had proceeded some leagues, when he was overtaken, boarded 
and carried by twenty-five men from the Sloop — M r Yeates and 
the Leanders men were put on shore at New London, and the 
Eugenia proceeded direct to this place through the Sound 
where she arrived on the 8 th Instant. 

M r Yeates, M r Masters three Seamen and the two Marines 
come here late in the afternoon of the 9 th — The other five 
Seamen deserted at New London — I immediately took his 
affidavit and transmitted it the next morning, with a letter 
from me detailing the particulars and requesting M r Merry to 
make spirited remonstrances with respect to the Conduct of 
Captain Mansfield his Mate and the armed men hired at New 
London, and to demand a restitution of the Ship. — As the 
Ship altho' admitted to an entry had not yet commenced the 
discharge of her Cargo, I also wrote on the morning of the 
10 th a Letter to the proper officers of the Customs on the Sub- 
ject, inclosing a copy of M r Yeates' affidavit, and required of 
them, to regain the possession of the Ship's papers, and to 
take the said Ship into their custody and not permit an Arti- 
cle to be landed or removed from her, until they received or- 
ders from the American Secretary of State to whom M r Merry 
would make a formal representation — 

I have the Honor to inclose you copies of the answer to the 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 187 

above — On M r Merry's opinion, I shall make no other commu- 
nication than that it does not correspond with mine. From 
his situation and experience however he must be the best 
judge. — I am pained to add he has been very unwell for some 
time past. 

TO MR. MERRY. 

New York Aug' 18 th 1804 

Sir. 

I have the Honor to enclose you a letter from Captain Skene 
of His Majesty's Ship Leander, and a copy of a letter from 
Captain Bradley of the Cambrian to me received this Morning 1 . 

I have to acquaint you that the Ship Little Cornelia de- 
tained by the Leander and sent to Halifax for adjudication 
was retaken by the Master Mate & Cook and carried into New 
London. No act of Violence attending the Measure — Mr 
Jahel the Owner has very handsomely disavowed his approba- 
tion of the Measure, returned Captain Skene the papers, and 
offers to abide the Sentence of the Vice Court of Admiralty at 
Halifax. 1 

TO MR. HAMMOND. 

New York 23 d August 1804. 
Sir. 

I was informed a few days since that the second instalment 
due by these states to His Majesty had uot yet been paid, ow- 
ing to M r Merry not having received an order for that pur- 
pose — It may be of moment that Lord Harrowby should be 
made acquainted that Spanish dollars are not to be obtained 
at any premium ; and bills of exchange bear an advance of 
two and one half per Cent, but would rise to five if £200,000 
Sterling is to be purchased. Besides with every precaution 
there is much risque in buying bills from Merchants — Under 

1 Notwithstanding Mi-. Juhel's was a French merchant, living in 

handsome offer, it does not appear New-York, who had married Cor- 

that the Little Cornelia was ever, nelia Livingston, sister to Schuyler 

in fact, surrendered. Mr. Juhel Livingston, Barclay's son-in-law. 



188 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

these impressions and not knowing whether any mode has 
been adopted for advantageously remitting this Sum or mak- 
ing a convenient application of it ; I am led to offer through 
you my opinion to his Lordship. — 

The six hundred thousand pounds is to be paid by the 
American States as a gross Sum in satisfaction of British 
Debts due to American Loyalists — Whenever the Commis- 
sioners appointed to certify the Sums due each Loyalist re- 
port. I think it would be most for His Majesty s Service to 
give drafts for the respective Sums awarded them payable in 
America. This mode will save the Government much trouble 
and expense and free it from the possibility of danger from 
protested Bills — The individuals who are to be paid will find 
ways of getting their money to Great Britain, indeed many will 
want it in this country. — A conviction of the prudence of this 
measure has led me to take the liberty of offering my opinion, 
and if no more proper person can be found to receive the 
money and pay the drafts, I beg leave to tender my Services — 

It is with pain I mention to you M r Merry having had a sec- 
ond severe attack — It is of the apoplectic kind — His mind 
since his arrival in America has been much perplexed by un- 
toward events of which you are not ignorant. 

His Majesty s Ships Leander and Cambrian still continue off 
this Port, watching the French Frigates within — It is said 
the latter intend going to Sea in a few days. Many com- 
plaints from the American Government against the conduct of 
the commanders of the British Ships of War ; but all of them 
unfounded, save that of the 17 tu of June, respecting the Ship 
Pitt, and treatment of the American officers. 



TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 24 August 1804. 

(Private.) 



Dear Sir. 



I am greatly pained to learn by your private letter that you 
have experienced a relapse and continue weak and indisposed. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 189 

The information in your own hand writing has been com- 
municated to the Commanders of His Majestys Ships of War 
off this Port. — By the news papers you will see there are 
many charges against them of impressments within the Amer- 
ican Waters, maltreatment and imprudent expressions, most 
if not the whole of them are without foundation : but four in- 
stances have come to my knowledge, neither of which have 
been made the subject of complaint, in which I am well as- 
sured the American ships were boarded within three miles of 
the Shore. I have repeatedly stated this to Captains Bradley 
and Skene, and requested them to be more careful in future 
that the American Ships are more than a League from Shore 
when Boarded — I added my opinion that a small relaxation in 
boarding and impressment would in my opinion be politic. — 
It is whispered, and I have reason to suspect it, that the two 
French Frigates will attempt their escape in a few days. 

The Editor of the American Citizen has made a violent at- 
tack upon the President of the Marine insurance company, 
wherein he states that that Gentleman had written to you on 
the Subject of French Privateers being on the American 
coasts, and in consequence of his representations our Ships of 
war had been sent hither. 1 This we know to be false — But 
he has learnt from a confidential person, that you shewed to M r 
Galatin my letter of the 12 tb of May, wherein I informed you 

1 The article appeared in the Citi- by Mr. Merry himself. As the Rev- 

zen of August 22. The following olution which severed the colonies 

extracts exhibit the substance of from the crown of Great Britain 

Cheetham's attack : never altered, as we are informed, 

Mr. Neilson's attachment to it, Mr. 

"The Leander & Co. Merry could not but comply with his 

"It is communicated to me by request toprotectAmericanCommerce, 
good authority that Mr. William and accordingly the Cambrian and 
Neilson Sen. of this city, merchant the Driver, the Boston and the Lean- 
wrote to Mr. Merry immediately der were graciously sent for that 
after his arrival in this country, re- purpose. . . . They have exhibited 
questing him to order a naval force their protecting care over our com- 
off the Hook, to protect American merce, in the capture of our vessels, 
Commerce. It is added that Mr. the violation of our territory, the 
Neilson's letter is now in the hands maltreatment of our fellow citi- 
of the Sec. of State communicated zens." 



190 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

that I had that day received a letter from the President of the 
Marine insurance Company in this City, stating a French 
Cruizer being off Georgia and South Carolina committing 
depredations on British and American Ships : and that I had 
notified Captain Douglas of it.— M r Galatin has communicated 
this to several persons, and probably to the Editor of the Citi- 
zen, and by this means a shameful use has been made of that 
which was honorably and prudently intended, and the unfair 
conclusion has been drawn that on this information you ap- 
plied to the Admiral for the Ships now off this port, and that 
the present blockade of this port is owing to M r Neilson the 
President of the Marine insurance office. You will do me a 
favor by acquainting me with what passed between you and 
M r Galatin, and whether you showed him the letter. 

As my proposed ride to Philadelphia was intended as a visit 
of respect and regard to you and M rs Merry, I shall postpone 
it until I am informed you are recovered — I sincerely hope 
soon to hear this from you. Present my best respects to M rs 
Merry. I wish you was farther Northward where the air is 
more cool, and the country more pleasant. 



TO VICE-ADMIRAL SIR ANDREW MITCHELL. 

New York 25 tb August 1804. 
Sir. 

Captain Bradley and Captain Skene (particularly the latter) 
having written to you fully by this Conveyance renders it un- 
necessary for me to state any thing further either respecting 
the Eugenia or the little Cornelia. They are both very morti- 
fying circumstances to me ; and I have in a private letter to 
Captain Skene recommended while off this place in the event 
of ordering a Vessel to Halifax for examination to send only 
their Master or Mate in her, and to forward the two other prin- 
cipal Officers of the Vessel by the first private conveyance. 
Tli is measure might be attended with an Expense of fifty to 
an hundred dollars, but what is that to insure the safe arrival 
of the Vessel. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 191 

It is rather singular M r Merry and myself should differ in 
opinion on the only two questions of moment that have oc- 
curred since the arrival of His Majesty's Ships off Port. — In 
the case of the Ship Pitt, M r Merry appears to have been 
rather in doubt that the Conduct of the officers of the Cam- 
brian amounted to an infraction of Neutral Rights. — On that 
point I am most clear, notwithstanding the tacit consent of 
Portugal Hamburgh &c &c &c in similar cases. Their suffer- 
ing British Ships of War to impress British Seamen in their 
ports can never alter the old established Laws of Nations, or 
take away the rights of other neutral powers. — In the regain- 
ing possession of the Eugenia by violence and recruiting an 
armed Body of Men on shore for that purpose, M r Merry ap- 
pears of opinion that it is uot an Act that will admit of a re- 
monstrance — There again I am so unfortunate as to be of a 
contrary opinion, which I have stated to him at large with my 
reasons. 

I have notified Capt. Bradley of the probability of the 
French Frigates attempting their escape either through the 
Sound or by the Hook : If the latter they will wait the first 
fresh Gale from the N W and I have cautioned him to keep 
well to the Northward of Sandy Hook, so to have the Bay 
open to him up to the Narrows, that he may see the Ships 
coming down, and be ready to meet them, because in less than 
two hours from their getting under way they will be at Sea 
and if our Ships run to the Southward of the Hook they will 
be to leeward and never overtake them. 

I am sorry to acquaint you that M r Merry has had two or 
three very disagreeable attacks, which entre nous, are evi- 
dently apoplective. He is very nervous, and dejected weak 
and almost incapable of doing Business. His Life I consider 
very precarious, and I have pressed him to permit me to send 
for Mr. Chipman the Solicitor General of New Brunswick to 
assist him until his Health, if ever is re-established. Mr. 
Chipman is the best qualified Character in this State. 

In one of my last letters I mentioned Samuel Billings an 
American Seaman who had been sent in a prize to Halifax — 
Captain Bradley told me he would be discharged there by you, 



192 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

and I requested you that he might, as he has been unequiv- 
ocally proved to be a native American — If he has not been 
discharged when you receive this I intreat he may as I stand 
pledged that he will be. 



TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 30 th August 1804. 
Sir. 

I did myself the Honor yesterday to communicate to you in 
a private letter that the French Frigates Sybil and Didon, had 
about 6 of the clock in the morning of that day got under way 
and proceeded towards Sandy Hook. The Wind being light 
and part of the tide expended before they were in motion pre- 
vented their getting farther than Gravesend Bay, distant 
about eleven miles from this city where they came to an 
anchor and where they remained at dark last Evening — As 
the Ebb made very early this morning, boats have been pre- 
vented getting up, so that we remain ignorant whether they 
remain at Gravesend or have gone to the Hook with the morn- 
ing tide — It is more than probable I shall hear before this 
letter goes to the Post Office. The best opinion I can form, 
is that these ships will attempt getting to Sea the first favor- 
able moment, when our Ships are to leeward to this port. 



TO WILLIAM NEILSON. 1 

New York 7 th September 1804. 
Sir. 

I have this moment received your letter of yesterday, and in 
compliance with your request inclose a Copy of the letter you 
wrote me on the 11 th of May last as President of the Marine 

1 The American Citizen renewed was intended to afford an answer 
its attacks on Mr. Neilson on August to these articles. 
28 and September 5. Barclay's letter 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 193 

Insurance Company — Having seen an Extract of my letter to 
the Mayor of this City of the 18 th of June published in the 
American Citizen, I was induced to examine that letter, as 
well as the one you wrote to me, and I find that in giving my 
reasons to the Mayor, for apprehending it would not be in the 
power of the Commander of His Majesty's Ships of War to 
comply with his request, I have been guilty of a mistake, in 
stating to him that your letter to me, expressed the American 
as well as British Commerce — My recital to the Mayor was 
from Memory, and not from a reference to your letter. I am 
extremely sorry for having unguardedly made use of two 
words not in your letter, and can only account for it on this prin- 
ciple, that the Newspapers at that time contained information 
of several American, as well as British Vessels having been 
captured to the Southward by French Privateers, and from 
my mind being impressed with these reports, led me, when 
I wrote to the Mayor to suppose it was so expressed in your 
letter. 

I have never received any other letter from you than the 
one herein mentioned. 



TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 13 Sept r 1804. 
Sir. 

I did not receive satisfactory proof that Jerome Bonaparte 
and his Lady were still in these States until last Evening. 
Two days since M r Wood told me that on the 5 th Instant he 
had met them in a common stage coach near Trenton ; but so 
universally was his, and his Wife's departure credited in this 
place, that I apprehended M r Wood had made a mistake. In 
addition to every other report, a confidential man assured me 
he saw her in a Barge with Monsieur Du Pont the French 
agent going from Staten Island to the Ship that General Arm- 
strong was in. I also knew to a certainty that M r Du Pont 
had borrowed money from a gentleman for the express pur- 



194 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

pose of an advance to Bonaparte at his departure. There can 
be no doubt that every thing was arranged for their (especi- 
ally his Ladys) going to Bordeaux in the Thomas, and I can- 
not but believe that General Armstrong must have had some 
knowledge of it. — As the Thomas passed Staten Island M r Du 
Pont and M rB Bonaparte in a Barge attempted to gain the Ship, 
but no notice was taken of them, nor would the Captain heave 
the Ship too for them, I cannot learn whether Jerome Bona- 
parte was in the Barge — M r Du Pont has since mentioned his 
and their disappointment and insinuated that they had been 
unhandsomely treated. — The Gentleman who lent M r Du Pont 
the money, mentioned yesterday to a friend, who I requested 
to interrogate him, the above particulars. — I have it also from 
another person to the same effect. 1 — The Didon will attempt 
her escape the first favorable moment. Pilots are engaged for 
the Sound as well as Sandy Hook. Captain Bradley although 
satisfied of the necessity appears unwilling to incur the ex- 
pense of keeping a boat on pay at Gravesend to give him no- 
tice if she attempts a passage through the Sound. This in my 
opinion is necessary, because the same Wind and Tide which 
carries the Didon through Hell Gate and the Sound, will pre- 
vent a boat getting to Captain Bradley, and give the Didon at 
least nine hours start. Whereas a boat stationed at Grave- 
send, in one hour after the Didon got under way, would leave 

1 Barclay was correctly informed, goiug with an Ambassador too good 

On September 5, Mme. Bonaparte to be missed, and Mr. Bonaparte 

wrote to her father from New-York : was to have gone in the frigates a 

"We have made the journey here for few days after me." In October, 

nothing, as General Armstrong, the 1804, Jerome Bonaparte and his wife 

Ambassador, after writing to Mr. sailed from Philadelphia, but were 

Bonaparte that he would be de- wrecked off the Capes of the Dela- 

lighted at taking me to France with ware and returned. In November, 

him, changed his mind and went off they embarked in the French frigate 

without me. To-morrow we are to L9 President, late Poursuivant ; but 

leave this place for Philadelphia, disembarked on learning of tho arri- 

and from thence we go to Springfield val of H. M. S. Revolutionnaire on 

immediately; so that, as I shall see thecoast. This ended their attempts 

you soon, it is unnecessary to say for the winter. In December they 

more. I thought the opportunity of were in Washington. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 195 

that for His Majestys Ships. I have no authority to employ 
such a Boat, unless you think proper to order it — The Syble 
it is said will remain here until our Ships are compelled to 
leave the coast; perhaps this is mere report. 



TO VICE-ADMIRAL SIR A. MITCHELL. 

New York 22 J Sept r 1804. 

(Private.) 
Dear Sir. 

Through the intervention of a friend of M r Pichon and 
mine, I have this day requested you would send him any 
private familiar letters of his which may have been forwarded 
to you from Capt 8 Bradley or Skene — and informed you that 
he would consider himself under an obligation if you feel 
yourself at liberty to favor him with copies of his official let- 
ters, which were taken on board the Eugenia or little Corne- 
lia, provided they contained nothing which can injure His 
Majestys Service — This last request I should not have made, 
had not Captain Skene informed me of the Contents of those 
letters, and that they merely respected Jerome Bonaparte 
going home — I am satisfied had M r Pichon received those let- 
ters in Season, Jerome would before this have embarked on 
board one of the Frigates, and attempted his Escape from 
your Ships : and I am further of opinion that M r Pichon will 
hurry him off on receiving official copies of them. 1 — The Cam- 
brian and Leander are now within the Hook, to avoid the ef- 
fects of an equinoctial Gale and to complete their Water. 

1 The official letters referred to The letters are dated the 30th Ger- 

were written by Decres, the French minal in the year XII(April 19, 1804). 

Minister of Marine, to Pichon and Translations are printed with other 

Jerome Bonaparte, conveying the original documents, in an otherwise 

orders of the First Consul for Je- worthless little book, " The Bona- 

rome's return, but prohibiting the parte-Patterson Marriage," Phila- 

coming of "the young person" with delphia, 1873. 
whom he had formed a connection. 



196 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

The French Frigates remain moored near the City. The Sy- 
ble has had her ballast overhauled and her rigging set, both 
Ships have been completed with Water, and their Coops filled 
with Poultry &c &c &c so that every thing indicates an inten- 
tion of going to Sea speedily. Hell Gate (the only difficult 
part of the navigation through the Sound) has been repeatedly 
examined by the officers of their Ships, and Pilots have been 
examined as to the feasibility of taking them through and or- 
dered to hold themselves in readiness — still I have it from un- 
questionable authority that they do not intend going to Sea 
that way, but will barely make the attempt, a ruse de guerre, 
in the hope that Captain Bradley on hearing that one of them 
has gone up, will send one of his Ships to the East end of 
Long Island to intercept her ; in which case the french Frigate 
will return and both Ships put to Sea. The truth is, that what 
they intend as a feint, ought in reality to be carried into effect. 
By sending one of the French Ships to New Port Rhode Is- 
land Cap* Bradley must have detached the Leander or Cam- 
brian to watch her motions. If the Leander was the Ship, 
the French Frigate might easily escape, and if the Cambrian 
went off Rhode Island, then the Ship here might put to Sea — 
all they aim at present is to get Bonaparte off in either Ship. 
From receiving their complement of Provisions and Water 
the French Frigates swim very deep — The Syble draws 
twenty four feet Water — I have had private information, but 
on which no dependance can be placed, because the man is a 
Stranger to me, and I have reason to suspect him to be a spy, 
and treat him accordingly, until I am satisfied he is the re- 
verse, that both the Ships are to remain where they are until 
our Ships retire, and that the Commodore will embark for 
France next week in a Merchant Ship — Time will develop 
this, and if the report proves true, induce me hereafter to af- 
ford to this man a grain more of credibility ; I however very 
much doubt my being authorized to place confidence in him. 
I say enough when I add that he is a Dutch Jew, who has 
travelled over the Globe, knows every Body and every thing. 
—If he was honest, he would be serviceable as he daily visits 
the French Ships. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 197 

TO CAPTAIN BEADLEY. 

New York 31 st Oct' 1804. 

You have noticed from the papers that a french Frigate is 
expected here from France, which report is confirmed to me 
this day by M r Merry. I have reason to believe she was yes- 
terday off this port and communicated with one of the pilot 
boats. The French Chancellor mentioned this last Evening 
and the Gentleman to whom he stated it came and told me of 
it. White the pilot (who it appears is about to be turned out 
of his boat) came this morning to Peacock and told him, that 
both the French Frigates had taken Williams and Minugh and 
two Hell Gate Pilots on board, and would certainly pass 
through Hell Gate the first fair wind. You will therefore 
take your measures accordingly — It is added by White that 
the french frigates will go through this next flood if the wind 
will admit, and that you cannot go out until next tide — Per- 
haps the whole may be a finesse to put you out. 

What fortifies me in the Idea that they are on the wing, is 
that they have lately had a press-gang on Shore, who took off 
six men that came to my knowledge and perhaps many more — 
Four of them they have been compelled to restore, and meas- 
ures are taking for the other two — I wait only until matters 
are ripe to develope this act of violence to the public — I send 
this by an express, that you may be ready at a moment— Rely 
on my attention. 



TO CAPTAIN BEADLEY. 

New York 3 rd November 1804. 
Sir. 

By Bushat at 12 OClock A M this morning I received your 
three letters of yesterday and I am happy to learn from my 
Son that he saw both your ships out at day light this morn- 
ing — The Breeze is light and favorable and I hope you will 
be at Montock Point in time to intercept them. It is said 



198 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

both French ships touched in going through, & that they an- 
chored last night, but this is not confirmed. 

Both Bushat and myself have been all over to hire a dispatch 
Boat but without success. At day Break I was on Long Is- 
land to procure one of the Block Island fishing Boats and of- 
fered three hundred dollars per Week to go and communicate 
with you. The men refused and said no money would induce 
them, as they could never again return to New York. I am 
convinced every boat has been bribed, or threatened not to go. 

Bushat therefore goes himself in his own boat — He and 
Stevenson have been unremitted in their exertions and merit 
everything from us ; should I learn anything of moment I will 
give it to you. If you once get sight of these ships, keep it, 
go where they will. 



TO VICE-ADMIRAL SIR A. MITCHELL. 

New York 7 Nov' 1804. 
Sir. 

I have the Honor to inform you that the French Frigates 
Didon and Cyble, proceeded through Hell Gate for Sea at half 
past four P M on the 2 d of this month, with a fair Wind, and 
from the best accounts yet received, they were seen on Satur- 
day 1 at 5 O Clock P M between Block and Long Island stand- 
ing to Sea — It was then nearly calm and continued so all night 
early Sunday Morning the Wind was from the S E, light airs 
and thick foggy Weather — on Monday Morning at 2 o Clock 
A M the Wind came round to N N West and blowed fresh — 

Captain Bradley received notice from me on the 31 st of Oc- 
tober of the intended departure of those ships by the way of 
Hell Gate, and was kept constantly informed from that day 
until they sailed — There was reason to suspect the French 
Ships intended merely the measure as a feint to draw His Ma- 
jest ys Ships to sea — It was therefore resolved by Captain 
Bradley not to proceed in pursuit until they had got through 
Hell Gate. For this purpose I had a confidential person posted 

1 November 3d. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 199 

at Brooklyn Heights to ride down to Gravesend the instant he 
saw the French Ship beyond Hell Gate, and to acquaint my 
son with it, who waited there to communicate by signal with 
Captain Bradley — At half past five o Clock in the Evening 
of that day he arrived at Gravesend, but it was then between 
day light and dark so that the Ensign hoisted on a flagstaff 
could not be distinguished from His Majestys Ships laying in 
Sandy Hook Bay, distant about twelve miles — M r Henry Bar- 
clay therefore dispatched a boat to Captain Bradley with a 
letter confirming the departure of the French Ships, and im- 
mediately lighted a fire the night Signal, the Captain of the 
Packet by my orders informed Captain Bradley would be 
made. The light was observed on board ship, but not so satis- 
factorily as to induce Cap* Bradley to go to Sea — At 8 o Clock 
however the light was distinctly seen, and some blue light also 
which Cap* Porteous of the Packet had brought from the Cam- 
brian, and the boat from my Son arrived at the same time — 
There was then about two hours flood remaining, and I had 
hoped His Majestys Ships would have gone out, as there was 
a very fine leading Wind. 

His Majestys Ships however did not get under way until 
near day light of the next day (the 3 d of November), early that 
Morning my Son saw them standing to the Eastward with 
every sail and a leading but light breeze — I dispatched a 
Schooner to watch the Enemy and communicate with His 
Majestys Ships off the East end of Long Island — We have 
had no report respecting either Ships, nor has the Pilot Boat 
which attended the French Frigates, or the one by me sent to 
Cap* Bradley returned. 

I fear there is little probability of His Majestys Ships meet- 
ing the French Frigates. 

TO MR. HAMMOND. 

New York 9 th Nov r 1S04. 
Sir. 

I received on the 2 d of this month a letter from William 
Bradley Esq r Commanding His Majestys Ship Cambrian, on 



200 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

the subject of his being superseded in the command of that 
ship in consequence of my letter to you of the 27 th of June 
last, and that the Secretary of the Admiralty had by order of 
the Lords Commissioners transmitted a copy of my Letter to 
Vice Admiral Sir Andrew Mitchell Commander in Chief of 
His Majesty s Ships of War on the Halifax Station, as the 
ground work of their order. 1 

I am particularly pained that such serious consequences 
have followed a detail of facts, by me intended only for the 
information of His Majestys Ministers — It is true I differed 
in opinion with Captain Bradley on his impressment of the 
Men at Staten Island from on board the British Ship Pitt, 
and urged him to restore them in which event every other 
complaint might have been happily got over with the Ameri- 
can Government; but Captain Bradley could not persuade 
himself that he had acted improperly, and the situation His 
Majestys ships were then in, expecting any moment to come 
to action with a greatly superior force of the Enemy, I am 
convinced induced Captain Bradley to consider he was ad- 
vancing His Majestys Service by retaining the men. 

In justice to Captain Bradley I feel bound further to state 
that from his arrival with His Majestys Ships in June last to 
their departure on the third of this month, I know not an in- 
stance (save the one before mentioned) in which blame can 
attach to him, on any of the complaints which may have been 
made by the American Secretary of State, on the subject of 
impressment of men, breach of neutrality, or infringing the 
Limits of American Jurisdiction. The zeal and unwearied 
attention with which he has supported a tedious and difficult 

1 On the first of September, Lord from our Government, it could not be 

Harrowby informed Mr. Monroe viewed otherwise than as a strong 

that the British Government had dis- proof of the desire of His Majesty to 

approved Captain Bradley's conduct cultivate the friendship of the United 

and censured it by removing him States ; to which I readily assented." 

from the command and ordering him A year later Monroe learned that 

home to account for it. Lord Har- Captain Bradley had been appointed, 

rowby said, adds Mr. Monroe, "that immediately on his return, to the 

as this step had been taken before commandof ashipof the line. Ainer. 

any complaint had been received State Papers, For. Rel., Ill, 90, 10G. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1803-1804 201 

blockade of five mouths, are proofs of his merit as a Seaman 
and an officer. I have the utmost respect for him, and will 
consider myself under an obligation by your acquainting the 
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that my letter of the 
27' 11 of June was not intended by any means as a complaint 
again st Captain Bradley, but for the information of His Ma- 
jestys Ministers, that they might be possessed of the facts, 
whenever a representation was made by the American Gov- 
ernment. 

TO ME. MEEEY. 

New York 10 Nov r 1804. 
Sir. 

I yesterday by the return of the dispatch Boat, received a 
letter from Captain Bradley the officer commanding His Ma- 
jesty s Ships Cambrian and Leander dated at Sea the 7 th In- 
stant, wherein he informs me that he arrived at ten O Clock 
on the night of the third instant off the East End of Long Is- 
land, but that the weather was so very thick, that they could 
not see twice the length of the Ship, and that during the prev- 
alence of this fogg the Enemy had passed him. He had 
therefore resolved to proceed immediately to Halifax Nova 
Scotia with both Ships. 1 

I cannot but regret that His Majestys Ships did not go to 
Sea, from six in the Evening of the 2 d until 10 oClock that 
night during all which time the signal fire, which I had in- 
formed Captain Bradley would be lighted when the Enemy 
had passed Hell Gate, was burning, and seen from the Ships. 
At 8 oClock that night Captain Bradley received a letter 
from M r Barclay my Son, at the Signal Port, giving him no- 
tice of the departure of the French Ships, at which time, there 
was yet near two hours flood tide. Had he then proceeded 
His Majestys Ships would have doubled Montock point, the 
East End of Long Island, before sunset on Saturday, and as 

1 The French ships reached L'Or- sailed on a Friday. Was Bradley's 
ient in December, after a fine pas- failure to start promptly in pursuit 
sage, and this in spite of their having due to superstition ? 



202 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

the weather was then clear must have seen the Enemys ships. 
From Captain Bradleys letter it appears, the pilot of the Cam- 
brian made some demur about taking the Ship out at night, 
but I understand from Captain Skene of the Leander, that his 
Pilot was not only ready to carry her over the Bar, but return 
and conduct the Cambrian also. 



CHAPTER V 

CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-1806 

From June 18 to November 3, 1804, the port of New- 
York had been practically blockaded by the little 
British squadron which had been kept to watch the 
Didon and Cybele. Barclay's correspondence shows, be- 
yond a doubt, that the original purpose of their visit was 
purely military, and therefore perfectly legitimate ; but 
they improved the occasion by inflicting injuries and 
insults upon the commerce of a neutral port — one can 
hardly describe it as a friendly one — which are almost 
past belief. Basil Hall's account of his service as a mid- 
shipman aboard the Leander in this summer of 1804 is 
well known. " Every morning at daybreak," he writes, 
" we set about arresting the progress of all the vessels 
we saw, firing off guns to the right and left to make 
every ship that was running in heave to, or wait until 
we had leisure to send a boat on board ' to see,' in our 
lingo, 'what she was made of.' I have frequently 
known a dozen, and sometimes a couple of dozen, ships 
lying a league or two off the port, losing their fair wind, 
their tide, and worse than all their market, for many 
hours, sometimes the whole day, before our search was 
completed." 1 The search might result in ordering off 
the vessel to Halifax for adjudication, and it almost in- 
variably did result in adding two or three likely men 
to the crew aboard his Majesty's ship. The guesses or 

1 Fragments of Voyages and Travels, Chap. V. 

203 



204 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

suspicions of British lieutenants as to the true owner- 
ship of goods, or the nationality of a seaman, were prac- 
tically decisive; for redress came but seldom, and it 
almost always came too late. The sense of wrong felt 
by ship-owners and mariners was immensely aggravated 
by the circumstance that all this was taking place in 
full sight of American soil, and probably in many in- 
stances within American jurisdiction. 

But now, for a time, the annoyance of a blockade 
was over; and, indeed, it was never renewed in any 
time of peace for more than a very brief period. The 
chorus of complaints in regard to " impressment within 
American waters, maltreatment, and imprudent expres- 
sions" had produced its effect even on the minds of 
British naval officers. Since the latter part of August 
they had exhibited little activity. During September 
and October the Lcander and Cambrian had, for the 
most part, been lying snugly at anchor within the Hook, 
partly because of protests and remonstrances, and partly 
because the advancing season greatly multiplied the 
difficulties of an effective blockade. 

The coasts of New Jersey and Long Island trend 
away to the southward and eastward, nearly at right 
angles to each other, and deep water is generally to 
be found close inshore. A wide opening and a broad 
stretch of sea was thus left to be patroled by vessels 
that watched outside the bar; and if the British 
cruisers were strictly to observe American neutral- 
ity, and confine their efforts to points distant three 
miles from either shore, the task of intercepting vessels 
that chose to hug the beaches became almost hopeless. 
The longer nights and stormier weather of autumn also 
greatly facilitated the escape of outward-bound ships, 
whether American traders or French frigates. No 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-1806 205 

square-rigged vessel could safely keep her station close 
outside the bar of New- York, in an easterly gale, so as . 
to intercept all incoming vessels; and the northwest- 
erly gales of winter would prevent her from lying to 
under canvas, a league or more offshore, in such a po- 
sition as to arrest vessels who had the choice of running 
out either to the southward or eastward. 

As soon, therefore, as the French frigates had sailed, 
the English gave up their watch on the port. For 
many months there was no further serious cause of 
complaint. But the reckless proceedings of the summer 
of 1804 had not been forgotten, and they were to bear 
bitter fruit in the increasing ill-will with which the 
American people regarded the Government of Great 
Britain. 

All through the year 1805, while the great strategic 
movements which culminated at Trafalgar were going 
on in other waters, British squadrons had ample occu- 
pation elsewhere. In the month of June the Cambrian 
and Leander were once more for a few days off New- 
York, accompanied by the sloop-of-war Busy ; but, 
with this exception, there were only brief visits from 
single ships. The Revolutionnaire called for Spanish 
dollars on February 3 ; the Busy came from Bermuda 
on March 6, with despatches, and sailed within a week 
for Halifax; an armed schooner was off Sandy Hook 
for a few days in May ; the Indian arrived in August, 
and the Cambrian early in November, remaining each 
but a short time; and the Busy called again on De- 
cember 6, with despatches. There was no attempt at 
a repetition of the blockade of 1804, and the year passed 
here without special incident. American vessels were, 
indeed, searched and seamen impressed, but it would 
be a mistake to suppose that there was, in 1805, any- 



206 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

thing like a continuous watch kept by the British upon 
the commerce of this port. 1 

In the spring of 1806, the Cambrian and Leander 
a third time appeared off Sandy Hook, this time in 
company with the sloop-of-war Driver. Their unwel- 
come presence was tragically signalized by the killing 
of an American citizen by a shot from the Leander, 
and their visit was brought to a sudden end. 

Meanwhile, during these years of 1805 and 1806, Bar- 
clay's domestic affairs were prosperous. Henry, his 
eldest son, entered into partnership with a Mr. Henry 
C. Rumsey, " a wholesale Silk mercer." De Lancey left 
the 17th Dragoons and got a commission as Captain in 
the 56th Regiment of Foot. Thomas, after serving in the 
Boston and Impetueux under Captain Douglas, was pro- 
moted to the rank of Lieutenant, and joined the North- 
umberland under Admiral Cochrane. 2 George and 
Anthony were still at school in Nova Scotia. 

One sad event occurred. Susan, who had married 
Mr. Stuyvesant in the summer of 1803, died within 
eighteen months of her marriage, when not quite 
twenty years old, in her new house in Partition (Ful- 
ton) street. Her death threw a great shadow over this 
period of Barclay's career; and it made a deep and 
lasting impression on his mind. 

His home, until the summer of 1806, continued to be 
in New- York, except when the yellow fever again drove 
him for a few weeks into the country. This time he 
found refuge at Elizabeth, in New Jersey, and he re- 

1 Into this mistake both Mr. Adams 2 De Lancey Barclay's commission 

and Professor McMaster have fallen, as Captain in H. M. Army bore date 

Adams's Hist, of the U. S., Vol. Ill, April 24, 1805; Thomas's as Lieu- 

pp. 91, 92 ; McMaster's Hist, of the tenant in the navy, September 11, 

U. S., Vol. Ill, pp. 236, 24G. 1805. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-1806 207 

mained there from about September 12 to October 22, 
1805. In June, 1806, Barclay gave up his Greenwich 
street residence and moved into the country, in the 
Town of Harlaem, about seven miles from the city; 
and there, for the next ten years, his family continued 
to live. His house, with its ten acres of ground, lay in 
a pleasant suburb near the East River. It was situated 
on both sides of the present line of First Avenue, and 
extended from about 108th to 113th street. It cost 
£5500 New- York currency, or $13,750. 

These two peaceful years in New- York were eventful 
enough in the world's history. Jefferson was reelected 
President. Burr's term as Vice-President ended, and 
he fell to hatching his mad conspiracy. Pitt died. The 
victories of Austerlitz and Jena gave Napoleon the mas- 
tery of Europe. The victory of Trafalgar gave Eng- 
land the absolute control of the sea. 



TO THE COLLECTOR, NAVAL OFFICER, AND SURVEYOR OF 
THE PORT OF NEW- YORK. 

New York 19 lh Nov' 1804 
Gentlemen. 

The Lords of the Admiralty having ordered Captain Beres- 
ford of the Royal Navy to proceed to America to take the 
command of His Britannic Majestys Ship of War Cambrian, 
Captain Beresford in obedience to those orders arrived not 
long since at Norfolk in Virginia in His Majestys Ship of War 
Revolntionnaire. At the time of his arrival at Norfolk, the 
Cambrian was off and on this Port, and Captain Beresfords 
baggage and Stores were put on board an American coaster in 
Hampton Roads for the purpose of being conveyed to the 
Cambrian. Previous to the arrival of the coaster off this 
Port, not only the Cambrian but the Leander had sailed for 



208 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

Halifax in Nova Scotia, and Captain Beresfords Baggage and 
Stores in which are included seven hogsheads, one quarter 
cask and thirty dozen of Madeira Wine, were "brought up to 
this city, and are now on board the coaster. Captain Beres- 
ford wishes to have permission to remove them from thence 
on board a schooner which he has chartered to carry his bag- 
gage and stores to Halifax, free from the American duties to 
which the Wines have undoubtedly become liable by the un- 
expected departure of the Cambrian. — Permit me to request 
you Gentlemen will be pleased to grant a permit for the above 
purpose : The liberality of the American Government I trust 
will prevent an exaction of duties on articles composing the 
Stores of a naval officer casually arriving in transit within its 
Jurisdiction. 1 



TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 20 th November 1804 
Sir. 

By this day's post I have received your No 37, covering a 
draft made by G. Simpson Cashier of the Bank of the United 
States on the Cashier of the office of discount and deposit in 
this City in your favor for seven hundred and fifty thousand 
dollars and by you indorsed to me, also a form of the receipt 
I am to take in triplicate on delivering the above amount in 
gold to Captain Hotham Commander of His Majesty's Ship 
Revolutionnaire — 

I have had a confidential communication with the Cashier 
of the office of discount & deposit in this City, who purposes 
if it meets your approbation to pay the whole in British and 
Portugal Gold, but by far the greater proportion in British — 
There is very little French Gold in the Bank here. — 

1 Captain Beresford did not go to Beresf ord and his Madeira then 

Halifax, but remained in New-York joined her and proceeded at once 

until about December 23, when the to the West Indies. 
Cambrian arrived here. Captain 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-1806 209 

TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 6 th Dec' 1804. 
Sir. 

The Spanish and French coins, as I have before noticed are 
in very good order, having suffered little or no mutilation, the 
proportion of French is very trifling. — The British Gold is 
also tolerably good, the one half at least standard weight, but 
the Portugal Gold is abominably clipped, sweated, and muti- 
lated, and at least one fourth part of it consists of half Johan- 
nes made from Spanish Gold, for the West India market or 
plugged half Johannes. — These are returned and other good 
gold given in their place. — The selection of these is difficult 
and occupies much time. I however hope the whole will be 
examined and packed by Tuesday or Wednesday next. — M r 
Burrell is very polite and accommodating. 

I have by two conveyances notified Vice Admiral Sir An- 
drew Mitchell of the arrival of the Poursuivante (now called 
the President) in the Chesepeak — and shall by the next op- 
portunity acquaint him with Captain Hothams situation. — 
Captain Beresf ord who is still here, has requested the Admiral 
to send the Cambrian to this place for him, and also notified 
him of the Poursuivante : he tells me he expects her here in 
the course of a few days. 



TO MRS. MARGARET DE LANCEY. 

New York 31 Jan r 1805. 
Dear Madam. 

The inclosed letter I received yesterday from the Attorney 
employed to collect the Debts due the late General Hamilton, 
who I retained as your Counsel against this State. — This charge 
stands in the Generals books in addition to the hundred dol- 
lars originally paid him by me ; and of course ought to be paid. 
I have therefore discharged it, and will thank you to pay my 
draft in favor of Messrs. Brook Watson & Co : for that amount 
on you. 



210 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

Mrs. Barclay, myself and family, are in extreme distress by 
the death of my lovely and most amiable daughter Mrs. Stuy- 
vesant who died on the 14 of this month — She had not yet at- 
tained her twentieth year. — I do not say too much when I add 
that she was in mind and appearance one of the first of Wo- 
men, and in duty and affection the best of Children. — You 
my dear Madam can and I am sure will feel for us. 



TO JAMES FAIRLIE, DEPUTY MAYOR. 

New York 7 March 1805. 
Sir. 

I have received your letter of this day, on the subject of 
James Smith, Richard Jenkins, James Stokely, James Bailey, 
James Woodworth and many other Citizens of the United 
States of America composing the crew of the American Ship 
Manhattan bound from Batavia to this Port having been im- 
pressed in February last at Sea by the Commander of His 
Britannic Majestys Sloop of War Busy, and that they are un- 
lawfully detained on board the said Sloop now in this Har- 
bour ; and that these facts have been verified to you under 
oath. 1 

Permit me to assure you that it is not only contrary to the 
orders of the Lords of the Admiralty to impress, but to the 
wishes of the Commanders of His Majestys Ships of War to 
detain an American Seaman. But it is a fact too notorious 
to have escaped your knowledge, that many of His Majestys 
Subjects are furnished with American Protection, to which 
they have no right or title — 

1 The Manhattan belonged to Fred- alleged ground that she carried a 

ericb and Philip Rhinelauder, and Dutch passenger from the Cape of 

was chartered by Minturn & Champ- Good Hope. She was sent in to 

lin for a voyage to Batavia and back. Bermuda, but ordered to be restored 

On her return, with a cargo of sugar, by the Vice-Admiralty Court. See 

coffee, indigo, and spices, she was Amcr. State Papers, For. Rel., Vol. 

capl ured by H. M. brig Busy, on the II, p. 765. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-1S0G 211 

Capt Biam of the British Sloop of War now in this Port 
has on board, I believe, thirteen men of the Crew which sailed 
in the Manhattan from Batavia, and which he took out of 
that Ship when he sent her to the Vice Court of Admiralty at 
Bermuda for adjudication. There can be no question at pres- 
ent as to these men, because the owners, or rather the Gen- 
tlemen who chartered the Ship Mess rs Minturn and Champlin 
have requested Capt Biam to take these men with him to Ber- 
muda, in order that they may navigate the Manhattan from 
thence to this Port in the event of her being released by the 
Vice Court of Admiralty, which in their and my opinion is 
probable, although a part of the cargo may be condemned — 
These men are bound to perform the Voyage, and Captain 
Biam is equally bound to see them forth coming if the ship is 
restored — under these circumstances you will I trust be of 
opinion that they cannot be discharged here — Still Sir to in- 
sure the readiness of Captain Biam to comply with your re- 
quest — He is willing in the event of a regular release to him 
from the owners of the Manhattan, the Underwriters and the 
freighters of that ship, to discharge forthwith such of the men 
as are bona fide Americans. 



TO MR. HAMMOND. 

New York 13 ,h March 1805. 
Sir. 

By this days southern mail I have received information that 
Jerome Bonaparte his Lady & a female companion of hers, 
with several Servants, will or rather have embarked on board 
the Ship Erin Cap 1 Stephenson ladened with flour, & was to 
sail about the 10* 1 ' Ins* from Baltimore probably for Lisbon. 1 
The Erin sails very fast, & was lately employed by the Span- 

1 The Erin sailed from Baltimore dam ; but not being permitted to 

on March 11, and arrived at Lisbon land, went to London, where her 

safely on April 2. Jerome Bonaparte child was born July 7. She returned 

there parted from his wife, who with the child to the United States 

sailed in the Erin again to Amster- in the autumn of this year. 



212 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

ish minister at Lisbon to carry dispatches to Cuba & Porto 
Rico, from whence she came to Baltimore & has been hastily 
prepared to carry Bonaparte & his family — 

I have thought proper to give you this information in the 
Event of its being thought necessary by His Majesty's Minis- 
ter to have an attempt made to intercept him — Will you do 
me the honor to lay the above before Lord Mulgrave ?* 



TO VICE-ADMIRAL SIR JOHN ORDE/ 

BRITISH CONSUL GENERALS OFFICE 

New York 13 th March 1805. 
Sir. 

I have this day received information, that Jerome Bona- 
parte, Brother to the Emperor, his Lady, a female companion 
and his domestics, were on the 10 th Instant to embark on 
board the Ship Erin, Stephenson Master, at Baltimore for Lis- 
bon ; but possibly for some other European Port. 

It is not long since that the Erin was chartered by the Span- 
ish Minister at Lisbon to carry out dispatches to the Havan- 
nah and Porto Rico, having delivered them, she came to Bal- 
timore, where she has taken a cargo, or part cargo of flour, 
and has been hurried to sail with all speed with Bonaparte. 

She is a fine small Ship ? sails very fast, bright sides, white 
bottom, black Wales, yellow Gun wale, dead eyes yellow, no 
bull work a midship, and a figure head. 3 

I have thought it proper to give you this information, that 
you may have it in your power to intercept them. — 

1 Lord Mulgrave had succeeded or so later by H. M. S. Leopard, and 
Lord Ilarrowby as Foreign Secre- Basil Hall put aboard of her as prize- 
tary upon Addington's joining Pitt's master. "I certainly never saw a 
Ministry, January 11, 1805. more perfect model of a merchant 

2 Commanding the British Squad- vessel," he wrote, "or one more com- 
ron blockading Cadiz. modiously fitted up." Fragments of 

:{ The Erin was captured a year Voyages and Travels, Chap. xvii. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-1806 213 

TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 18 th March 1805 

The Collector of the Customs informed me on Saturday that 
he had not officially received a copy of the "Act for the more 
" effectual preservation of Peace in the Ports and Harbours of 
" the United States and in the Waters under their Jurisdic- 
tion": nor any rules, instructions, orders, or directions for 
the carrying the objects of this act into effect from the Presi- 
dent of the United States, or otherwise. 1 He has assured me 
that on receiving any communication on this Subject he will 
give me the earliest notice, and permit me to peruse them, un- 
less they are of a nature not to be divulged — 

I shall take occasion from time to time to enquire of him 
whether he has received any instructions, and give you the 
earliest notice of their extent — 

There w T ill be no conveyance from hence to Bermuda in less 
than eighteen or twenty days ; so that it is more than probable 
that Vice Admiral Sir Andrew Mitchell with his whole Squad- 
ron will have left that place for the Season, before your letter 
for him arrives — You will have time to give me further direc- 
tions with respect to it. In the interval, I shall by every ves- 
sel going to the West Indies, write a line addressed to the Ad- 
miral or any of the Commanders of His Majesty s Ships of 
War and desire them not to come within Sandy Hook, until 
they first communicate with me. There can be little doubt, 

1 This act was approved March 3, Marshals, and other officers, as to 

1805. A brief summary of its pro- their duties under this act. Mr. 

visions will be found in Adams's Merry's " inquietude " with regard 

Hist, of the U. S., Vol. II, p. 397. to the clause of the act permitting 

Among other things, the act author- the arrest of foreign officers for "any 

ized the arrest of offenders against tort or trespass " on an American 

American laws when found on board vessel on the high seas, or " any un- 

foreign armed vessels, and required lawful interruption or vexation of 

such vessels to report to the Col- trading vessels," is described in Mr. 

lector of the port and obey his di- Madison's instructions to Mr. Mon- 

rections ; and the President was re- roe of March 6, 1805. Amer. State 

quired to give, " as soon as maybe," Papers, For. Rel., Vol. Ill, p. 100. 
instructions to all Collectors, U. S. 



214 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

but one of my letters will be received in the course of ten days 
or a fortnight — 



TO VICE-ADMIRAL SIR ANDREW MITCHELL. 

New York, 25 March 1805 
Sir, 

I take it for granted Mr. Merry has mentioned to you the 
very extraordinary act passed at the last session of Congress, 
with his opinion on it — You will perceive from the general 
tenor of this act, particularly the 4, 5, 6, 7 and last Sections, 
that it will be hazarding too much to permit His Majestys 
Ships of War to enter any of the American Ports until an ex- 
planation has taken place between the two Governments — By 
several conveyances to the West Indies I have addressed let- 
ters to you or any of the Commanders of His Majestys Ships 
of War advising them of this act, and recommending the lay- 
ing off and on an American Port until you or they communi- 
cated with His Majestys Minister at Washington, or the resi- 
dent British Consul, where the Ship may arrive — I have 
taken the liberty to inclose you the act, as I have reason to be- 
lieve it is not in either of Mr. Merry's letters. 

I also inclose you this day's paper by which you will learn 
the unpleasant account of the arrival of a French Squadron in 
the West Indies. 1 



TO JOHN McKENZIE. 

New York 21 April 1805 
Dear Sir, 

You will naturally be surprized at my Silence, which has 
even exceeded the limit I wished, but the situation of my 
mind for some months past has prevented my writing except 
in cases of emergency ; and as your cause before the Chancel- 
1 This was Missiessy's squadron, which reached Martinique February 20. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-1806 215 

lor was not decided until Thursday last I deferred writing 
having- nothing satisfactory to communicate. 1 

The chancellor has not without difficulty at last decreed 
the lands to me in trust to be sold for your benefit. I 
shall offer them immediately for sale, but Lands are so 
low and money scarce that I fear they cannot be disposed 
of to advantage. 

Mrs. Barclay, myself and family are under the deepest 
affliction for the loss of my lovely and most amiable daughter 
Mrs. Stuyvesant who died in January, and before she had at- 
tained her twentieth year. — Her death was occasioned by a 
premature delivery of her first child, still born. She died four 
days after, but suffered inexpressible pain — To lose such a 
child, with such flattering prospects, and in such a manner is 
more than human nature can support — Within the short pe- 
riod of 18 months, two most beloved children have expired in 
my arms. — Parents never were blessed with more dutiful, 
correct and every way promising children — You who are a 
father can and as a friend I am sure will feel for me — God 
grant you may never taste of that cup of which so large a 
portion has been mine. 

When you go up to London, I wish you would take occasion 
to say to some of the principal underwriters at Lloyds, that 
they are shamefully defrauded in this City, under the excuse 
of an averaged loss upon damaged goods — That nothing is 
more easy than to procure the Port Wardens to mark the 
goods as damaged — It is the daily practise when merchandize 
arrives to a bad market, or the importer is in want of cash — 
the very importer often buys them in at 50 per Cent under 
first costs — If one bale is injured ten others not injured are 
sold under the averaged loss — Every merchant of respectabil- 

1 Mr. McKenzie was a merchant Gregor's trustees ; but Munro dying 

in England who had a claim against soon after, intestate, the title to the 

the estate of Colon el McGregor. Mc- lands vested in his heirs, and the 

Kenzie authorized John Munro, of suit in question was brought to have 

New-York, to collect or settle the a trust declared in respect to the 

debt, which he did by taking a con- property and to have a new trustee 

veyance of certain lands from Mc- appointed. 



216 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

ity in this City speaks of the impositions practised on the 
British underwriters — The Evil will continue while there is 
no person authorized to counteract the conduct of the Port 
Wardens, and to act as the agent for the underwriters. You 
will perceive that it is the interest of the Port "Wardens to 
condemn goods whenever they can, because they receive two 
per Cent on the sales, which constitutes the principal profits 
of their office. 

Do me the favor to communicate this to the Gentlemen at 
Lloyds and to Mr. John Gladstone and the other merchants 
at Liverpool. 



TO CAPTAIN CHAUNCEY. 1 

New York 2" d April 1805 
Sir, 

Samuel Balfour master of the British Brig Culmar and Pe- 
ter Brown master of the British Ship Cecilia have represented 
to me that an apprentice Boy of Capt. Balfour named John 
Garnly, and an articled Boy of Capt. Brown, named John 
Hamilton both British Subjects have entered and now are on 
board the United States Ship of War John Adams in this Port 
and under your command — That they have applied for the 
re-delivery of their Boys and are told by Lieut. Maxwell that 
they would not be restored until all expenses were paid. — It 
is unnecessary for me to make a remark on the impropriety of 
such an answer. — That the American Government have a 
right to receive on board their ships British Seamen who de- 
sert from British Ships, is a position that can never be main- 
tained; and it follows, that on discovery they ought to be 
restored — Permit me therefore to request you will be pleased 
to direct that the Boys above mentioned may be delivered to 

1 Isaac Chauncey, at this time before Tripoli, and. was to attain 
commanding the sloop John Adams, wider distinction in the War of 1812 
had already distinguished himself by his services on Lake Ontario. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-1806 217 

their respective masters, without any charge, as that rule can- 
not be admitted : nor is it ever practised in the British Navy — 
I am under the necessity to acquaint you further that four 
Boys have deserted from His Majesty's Packet Queen Char- 
lotte now in this Port and ready to sail to-morrow, and that 
they have been entered on board your Ship. Be pleased to 
inform me whether you will deliver them to the captain or 
master of the Packet if they wait on you for that purpose. 
They are assuredly on board your ship, the fact has been 
proved to me — 



TO CAPTAIN CHAUNCEY. 

New York 4 th April 1805. 
Sir. 

I have the Honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter 
of yesterday and beg your acceptance of my best acknowledge- 
ments for your ready compliance with my request — 

I should certainly have made my first application to you re- 
specting the British Seamen, had not Captain Balfour of the 
Culmar and Capt. Brown of the Cecilia told me that the offi- 
cer commanding on board the United States Ship John Adams 
had referred them to Lieut. Maxwell the regulating officer at 
the Rendezvous here of that Ship, and that Lieut. Maxwell 
had told them, the men would not be given up until the ad- 
vance money and all other expenses were paid. On this in- 
formation I thought it unnecessary to apply to you, under a 
supposition that you were under such orders from the Ameri- 
can Secretary of the Navy — The speedy departure of His 
Majesty's Packet rendered it necessary for me to apply to the 
Mayor as well as yourself, because in the event of their not 
being restored, I should have been obliged to have taken affi- 
davits of the Facts — I took it for granted that the Mayor had 
no control over you or in Naval matters, yet it appeared prob- 
able to me that his recommendation would add weight to my 
application. 



218 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

Your experience in every instance where you have met with 
Officers of His Britannic Majesty's Navy, renders it unneces- 
sary for me to say with what pleasure they render the Ameri- 
can Naval Officers every aid in their power and I am gratified 
by the very handsome and polite manner in which you have 
been pleased to express similar sentiments toward them, and 
your readiness to support a continuance of the present good 
Understanding which subsists between our respective Govern- 
ments. 



TO MR. MERRY. 

New York, 10 ,h April 1805. 

(Private.) 
Dear Sir. 

I am much obliged by your private letter of the 13 th of this 
Month, and for your general justification of my proceedings 
respecting the Crew of the Manhattan, and my Correspon- 
dence with the Deputy Mayor of this City on the Subject, to 
which it appears the American Secretary of State has thought 
proper to except, and to transmit you a formal Complaint. — 
Wherever His Majesty's Interest, and that of the Nation are 
involved, I shall always consider it my duty to speak the 
truth, however unpleasant it may be to those who hear or feel 
it; an opposite line of Conduct will gain little in this Coun- 
try, where politeness is too generally supposed to originate in 
timidity, & accommodation in Servility. The French know 
better how to treat the Americans. 

You will be pleased to observe that, that point of my letter 
which appears to have given the greatest offence and of which 
you have given me an extract, was in reply to the demand of 
the Deputy Mayor, that every Seaman on board His Majesty's 
Sloop Busy from the Manhattan possessed of a Certificate of 
American Citizenship should immediately be set at liberty: 
upon this principle, that these Certificates were evidence of 
their being American Citizens, until the Contrary was proved. 
It became necessary to resist this position, & in my opinion, 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-180G 219 

not improper iu my reply, to state the above abuses in the 
granting of these Certificates. The Doctrine set up by the 
Deputy Mayor would be productive of serious consequences 
to His Majesty's Service, & effectually preclude the Comman- 
ders of Ships of War from recovering a British Seaman pos- 
sessed of one of these Certificates. It is a claim admirably 
adapted to the carrying into effect the act for the better pres- 
ervation of Peace in the Ports of the United States and the 
Waters within their Jurisdiction.— Let the Scotch accent or 
Irish Brogue, be ever so strong it is to have no weight, where 
opposed to a Certificate of Citizenship. Passing over in silence 
the innumerable instances where British Subjects within a 
month after their arrival in these States obtain Certificates, 
permit me to remind you, that by a Law of these States, a 
residence of five years entitles a man to a Certificate of Citi- 
zenship. The United States have a right to enact what laws 
they please, but it rests with His Majesty whether he will 
suffer them to operate in violation of his rights. If Congress 
have a right to say five years residence shall create a foreigner 
a Citizen, in such an absolute manner as not to be reclaimed 
by the power to which he originally belonged— They may 
with the same propriety enact the moment a foreigner sets 
foot in these States, he becomes ipso facto, an American Citi- 
zen & to be protected as such — The Documents which I have 
already furnished you prove the indiscriminate use of those 
Certificates, and I might appeal to the Commander of the 
American Ships of War whether the major part of their crews 
have not been natives of Great Britain or Ireland. The fact 
is notorious, and the truth of my remark was the only cause 
of offence. Perhaps my objection was too broad, I wish it 
had been more qualified, but will M r Madison venture to say 
that there have not been great and innumerable abuses in 
granting of these Certificates — If this is the Case, really he 
should not have found fault with an assertion which possibly 
may have applied too extensive limits, to what is exceeded as 
extension. I shall studiously avoid in all my communications 
with the officers of the American Government using expres- 
sions which may in the most remote manner give pain or of- 



220 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

fence unless indispensable in asserting the Rights of my Sov- 
ereign. I have the Collector's assurances that he has not yet 
received any order for carrying the Act for the better preser- 
vation of Peace &c &c into effect — 



TO VICE-ADMIRAL SIR ANDREW MITCHELL. 

New York 3 d May 1805. 
Sir, 

I understand M r Le Blanc who commanded an armed tender 
attached to the Cambrian has left the position off Sandy Hook 
and returned to Halifax ; in which event he will have been 
with you some time before this is received ; and have informed 
you of the desertion of his sailing Master and eight Seamen 
with the Cutter. — Every exertion in my power has been made 
to regain the men, but no traces could be found of any of 
them, save the sailing Master and a man dressed in a black 
coat, white trousers and vest, about twenty-five years old, dark 
hair and about 5 feet 10 Inches. — They were discovered by a 
man who I had employed, but before I could get a peace offi- 
cer to the house, they were off and have not been since seen. 
From the best legal advice I am however told that nothing 
could have been done with these men, because the taking of 
the Boat would not be adjudged a felony, as they left her on 
a beach, but merely as a means of their escape — That it has 
been so adjudged in the case of men who affected their escape 
from an American Ship in the same way. 

I forwarded to you at Bermuda the act of Congress for the 
better preservation of peace in the harbours and ports of the 
United States and the Waters thereof — and I have since for- 
warded several letters from M r Merry to you which I suppose 
to be on the same subject — No instructions have yet been re- 
ceived by the Collector of the Customs of this Port, as he as- 
sures me, from the President for carrying this law into effect 
— And it is not only my opinion but that of many of the best 
informed Gentlemen of this place, that the President will not 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-1806 221 

send any instructions, or if he does they will be so guardedly 
expressed, as to give no power to the Collectors until each par- 
ticular case is reported — If necessary I am therefore of opin- 
ion you may with safety send any of your ships here, I would 
however recommend their not coming nearer town than Staten 
Island — 



TO VICE-ADMIRAL SIR ANDREW MITCHELL. 

New York 4 May 1805. 
Sir. 

I have the Honor to inform you that several Vessels which 
have arrived within these States from the West Indies, report 
that they saw the french Squadron lately in the West Indies 
on the 4 th , 5 th and 8 th of last Month steering to the Northward, 
on the last day they were in N. L. 24 : 14 — L. GG. 

There is reason to suppose that they are bound for New- 
foundland and possibly for Halifax. 1 



TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 14 th May 1805. 
Sir. 

I have the Honor to inform you that a french Privateer 
Schooner of twelve Guns arrived here on the Evening of the 
12 th and came to an anchor between this and Staten Island ; 
but yesterday, Mail was closed, before I could learn her desti- 
nation or object. — She belongs to Victor Hughes 2 the Gover- 
nor of Cayenne and having sprung a leak has put in to this 
place for repair, and I understand the Governor has granted 
permission — I shall observe the nature of the repairs, and re- 

1 Missiessy, with the Rochefort Squadron, sailed from the West Indies 
about the first of April, and reached Rochefort again on May 26. 
2 Hugues. 



222 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

port them to yon, if they appear more than necessary to carry 
her back in safety to Cayenne — 

I have received information this morning from a confidential 
person who spoke a Spanish Privateer of 14 Guns on Sunday 
a little to the Southward of this port, the Captain of which 
said he should cruise some time between this and the Chese- 
peak — I shall give Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew Mitchell the 
earliest information. 



TO VICE-ADMIRAL SIR A. MITCHELL. 

New York 16 th May 1805 
Sir 

Since my letter to you of the 14 tb Current, I have received 
information from the Master of an American Vessel, that he 
was boarded about 50 Leagues to the Southward of Savannah 
in Georgia by a f rench Privateer named the Grand Visiteur of 
22 Guns and 150 Men, destined to cruise off Georgia — You 
will perceive by the newspaper inclosed that there is also 
another french Privateer off this Port — I take it for granted 
they have heard of your having gone with the Squadron to 
Nova Scotia, and have come on the American Coast to reap 
while your Ships are in port — The President has not sent any 
instructions to the Collector of the Customs for carrying into 
effect the Law for the better preservation of Peace in the 
Ports of the United States and the waters under their Juris- 
diction : your ships may therefore for the present come with 
safety within Sandy Hook — It may however not be amiss to 
give particular orders to the Commanders, not to let the yawl 
from the Pilot boat come along side, but send their own boat 
to take him out, and when on board ship, that he is not per- 
mitted to speak to any of the Men — These Pilots invariably 
bring letters from on board, and verbal complaints of Men 
representing themselves to be Americans — as there is always 
an officer on the Quarter Deck, it cannot in my opinion be 
difficult to prevent the Pilot conversing with the Seamen — 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-1806 223 

TO DE WITT CLINTON. 

New York 3 d July 1805 
Sir. 

I am informed that the French Privateer Les Amie has 
more Guns on board than those she arrived with in this Port ; 
her number of Guns being then eight and that she has in- 
creased her original complement of men, who were sixty four 
in number — 

I have therefore to request that you will take the proper 
measures to prevent her leaving this Port with an increase of 
men or Guns, as it is inconsistent with the Laws of Nations — 
It is further stated to me, but this is a fact not in my power 
at present to prove but which ought to come within the know- 
ledge of the Customs, that Powder has been put on board this 
Privateer in this Port — The Privateer will sail at daybreak 
to morrow morning, unless detained by you for examination — 



TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 6 July 1805 
Sir. 

I have the Honor to inclose to you my letter of the 3 d cur- 
rent to the Mayor of this City on the Subject of the French 
Privateer Les Amie then in this Port, with his answer to me 
on the subject, which appears very positive, particularly when 
it is considered that his information from his own statement 
appears to have been drawn from the assurances of the French 
Commissary and the Agent of the Privateer. It is not for me 
to enter into a dispute with the Mayor on this subject, because 
I am not certain that it would be in my power to bring for- 
ward Witnesses to prove that the Privateer had received ad- 
ditional Guns while in this Port, or an increase of Powder and 
Shot ; but I trust you will agree with me that his measures to 
ascertain the fact, should have been by an examination of the 
Ship by Custom House or other Civil officers, and not to build 



224 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

an answer on the assurances, of the French Commissary or 
Agent of the Privateer. — I submit the case to your better 
judgement and hope you will be able to obtain from the Amer- 
ican Secretary of State directions to the Mayor for his taking 
more satisfactory measures in future on similar occasions. 



TO MR. MERRY. 

New York, 22" July 1805 
Sir. 

On the subject of Mr. Madison's answer to your representa- 
tion respecting the French Privateer Les Amie repaired in this 
Port, permit me to remark, that on her arrival here application 
was made to the Governor to allow her to come up to the City 
in order to undergo necessary repairs, to which he assented. 
I have since been informed by the Deputy Collector that on 
a supposition that she was a Commissioned Vessel the Custom 
House took no cognizance of her — an application therefore to 
the Collector would probably have proved unsatisfactory — 
But while that Privateer was in port, I privately called on the 
Surveyor of the Customs, and acquainted him that I had rea- 
son to believe that vessel would receive a repair beyond what 
was necessary under the treaty between France and the United 
States of America and contrary to the Laws of Nations, and 
that I had received information she would take on board Guns, 
powder and shot purchased in this City, and requested he 
would direct his officers to attend to her and report the facts — 
The Surveyor a few days before the sailing of the Privateer 
assured me that his officers had not been able to detect any 
thing which he considered illegal, but he added that as the 
Privateer lay in the Stream and he could not send an officer 
on board, that the Warlike articles by me mentioned might at 
night have been put on board without his knowledge or that 
of his officers. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1S04-1S0G 225 

TO MR. MERRY. 

Elizabeth town New Jersey. 
g IRi 12 th September 1805. 

I have in consequence of the yellow fever having extended 
itself over every part of New York, been obliged to remove 
with my family to this place until health is restored to that 
unfortunate City. 

The symptoms of that fever and its mortality are stated by 
the faculty to be more violent and greater than in preceeding 
years.— You will for the present be pleased to address you? 
letters for me at this place. 

During the prevalence of the fever I shall be twice in each 
week, as near the City as possible to attend to the duties of 
my office. 



TO MR. MERRY. 

g New York 7 Nov r 1805. 

It appears that Col : Williams of the Engineers some time 
since received orders to survey, and examine the Port of New 
York, and report the particular scite most proper for the erect- 
ing of Fortifications for the defence of that place, the extent 
and nature of these works, whether Islands might not be 
formed by art peculiarly adapted to defence, and to present 
an estimate of the aggregate expence which would attend the 
"Works he should propose as necessary. 1 

i See as to Lt.-Col. Williams's Re- tary in Paris, where he studied the 

port, Amer. State Papers, Mil. Af- science of fortification. He returned 

fairs, Vol. I, p. 193. Jonathan Wil- to America after the peace, entered 

hams, "the father of West Point," the Army, and became the first Su- 

was born at Boston, May 26, 1750. perintendent of the Military Acad- 

He was a great-nephew of Benjamin emy. He died May 16, 1815. 
Franklin, and was Franklin's secre- 

15 



226 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

He attended the examination and survey for several days 
about the 20 th of October, and a part of this duty was before 
that date and since committed to the Care of a Captain Ma- 
comb. 1 What his report was I cannot yet ascertain but hope 
to do it in the course of a week or ten days, but this is certain 
that while he was on this duty, he declared that as it was im- 
possible to form any correct estimate, he would not therefore 
risque his reputation in reporting a Sum, that might exceed or 
fall short of the necessary expenditures. 

The New York Gazette very incorrectly stated that a Pilot 
went down on the 5 th to bring His Majesty's Ship Cambrian 
within the Hook — The Cambrian has not been within, on the 
sixth having agreed with Captain Beresford that he would be 
within a few miles of Sandy Hook, my son carried down some 
dollars iu a Pilot Boat, and the Ship immediately got under 
way : and was to sail this day for Halifax, the limitation of the 
cruize being expired. 



FROM MR. BROUGHTON. 

Downing Street Jan* 3 d 1806. 
Dear Sir, 

I have just received your letter of the 5 th ult" — The Anti 
Jacobin is stopped — The Gazette shall be commenced Tomor- 
row. I delivered your letter to Cap 1 Barclay whom I have re- 
quested to give me a few days previous notice should he desire 
to avail himself of your authority for him to draw upon me 
for a few Hundred Pounds to compleat the purchase of his 
Majority — 

The Accouuts from the Continent are so truly disastrous 
and afflicting that I will only say I consider the Good Cause as 
utterly hopeless — Bonaparte being absolute Master of the 
Continent. 2 The Southern Part of which he will carve and 

1 Alexander Macomb was at this ing General of the Army, and died 

time 23 years old. He was rapidly June 25, 1841. 

promoted during the war with Eng- 2 The battle of Austerlitz was 

land, attained the rank of Major- fought December 2, 1805. 
General in 1814, became Command- 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-1806 227 

apportion in whatever manner lie pleases. His Plan appears 
to me to be to reestablish The Empire of The West in his own 
Person. 

There is little to look forward to with the smallest compla- 
cency. A protracted War will exhaust our pecuniary resources 
and a speedy Peace will release the Corsican's Sailors now in 
our Prisons and afford him the means of creating a Navy 
which may be able to dispute the Dominion of the Seas with 
that of Great Britain — until which, I hold all his Vaporing 
about Invasion as mere empty Gasconade — We never can be 
invaded with any prospect of Success on his Part until his 
descent is covered by a powerful Fleet. 
Ever dear Sir 

Very truly Yours 

C. R. Broughton. 



TO VICE-ADMJRAL SIR ANDREW MITCHELL. 

New York, 1" Feby 180G. 
Sir. 

Previous to your leaving Halifax for Bermuda, you must 
have heard that the Americans had warmly taken up the Doc- 
trine advanced in a late British Pamphlet entitled war in Dis- 
guise ; x and of what they termed a violation of their neutral 
Rights by recent captures on the Part of His Majesty and 
condemnations of property on board American Ships. The 
Merchants of the principal Cities in these States have memo- 
rialed Congress on this Subject in strong Languages — a Copy 
of one of these I have the Honor to inclose. Things appear 
to me to be approximating to an unpleasant Crisis between 
Great Britain and these States. On Wednesday last a resolu- 
tion passed the lower house in Congress on the Subject of 
passing an Act to prohibit the importation of any goods wares 
merchandizes or any thing the Produce of Great Britain, its 

i See Adams's Hist, of the U. S., Vol. Ill, pp. 50-53. 



228 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

Dominions &c. — This resolution 1 you will find in one of the 
news Papers inclosed, and in another news paper the remon- 
strance of the Am" Minister at London to Lord Mulgrave on 
the general subject of violation of neutral rights. 2 It is 
doubtful whether Congress will eventually pass a law to pro- 
hibit importations from Great Britain and its dependencies, 
yet as they appear to grow daily more warm, in proportion as 
they debate on the question, I confess I should not be surprised 
if so imprudent a measure was carried. I have thought it my 
duty to give you this hint, that you may if you judge proper 
order some of the Ships under your command to touch more 
frequently here, than you originally intended. 

I do not know what may have passed between you and Lieut 
General Gardner on the Subject of money now in my hands 
for the use of His Majestys Forces, and of its conveyance from 
hence to Halifax ; but under the present appearances I much 
wish it was from this place ; and could wish if it does not mil- 
itate with more material parts of His Majestys Service that 
you would have the Goodness to send for it, as soon as it can 
be conveniently done. 



TO ADMIRAL SIR ANDREW MITCHELL. 

New York, 29 March 180G. 
Sir. 

I have the Honor to acknowledge the receipt of a dispatch 
from Captain Beresford of His Majestys Ship Cambrian of the 
22 d of February by His Majestys Sloop Driver, written by your 

1 The resolution referred to is ap- resolution, proposed by Mr. Nichol- 

parently that introduced by Mr. son of Maryland, being adopted as 

Gregg of Pennsylvania on Wed- a substitute. 

nesday, January 29, which was not 2 Mr. Monroe's letter of Septem- 

adopted, but was merely referred to ber 23, 1805, is the one referred to. 

a Committee of the Whole on the It was communicated to Congress 

State of the Union, and ordered to by the President, together with me- 

be printed. The resolution was sub- morials from the merchants of New- 

sequently debated from March 5 to York, Philadelphia, Newburyport, 

March 17, and lost, a more moderate Charleston, Baltimore, and Norfolk. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-1806 229 

order in reply to my letter of the first of that month. I am 
sorry to inform you that neither the December, January or 
February Mails have arrived from England ; by arrival from 
thence, I perceive it stated in the London papers that a Packet 
sailed from Falmouth on the 28th of January for New York. 
The Winds have since prevailed from the North Eastward, 
and as the Packets generally take a southern course during 
the Winter, the length of her passage is easily accounted for, 
while we have had numbers of Merchants Ships from England 
and France within the last ten days, in about thirty days pas- 
sage — The Purser of the Driver came up about 8 oClock last 
Evening, and returned to the Hook this morning, it being 
Captain Simpsons intention as the Purser informs me to leave 
Sandy Hook this day on his return to Bermuda. — I think the 
packet must be in within 40 hours from this and I shall request 
the Purser to communicate my opinion to Captain Simpson, 
that he may wait that period if his orders will permit. — 

The news papers herewith sent detail the proceedings in 
Congress since my last. You will perceive that a resolution 
has passed the House of Representatives to prohibit the impor- 
tation of certain articles from Great Britain l and a Bill ordered 
to be brought in for that purpose. Many of the best informed 
Americans think that the bill will not pass the Senate ; I confess, 
however I am of a different opinion. This Bill altho' not so 
extensive as M r Griggs original motion, cannot but be consid- 
ered as a very unnecessarily strong measure. — M r Randolphs 
loose desultory speech, 2 will throw some light on the General 
Subject, it is in one of the News papers. — As most of the 
Ships that were detained in England last Autumn and early in 
the Winter, have since been returned and permitted to proceed 
on their respective Voyages ; the American violence against 
Great Britain has in some measure subsided. 

i Nicholson's resolution, adopted long public career of opposition.'' 

March 17, 1808, which, amended, Adams's Randolph, pp. 173-181. 

passed the Senate April 15, 1806. The speech was reprinted as a pam- 

2 Speech of March 5, 1806. It was phlet in London, with an introduc- 

with this speech, says Mr. Henry tion by James Stephen, the author 

Adams, that Randolph "began his of War in Disguise. 

15* 



230 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

TO ME. MERKY. 

New York 24 th April 1806 
Sir. 

The Purser of His Majestys Ship Leander has this day deliv- 
ered me a letter from Captain Henry Whitby the Commander 
informing me of his arrival off Sandy Hook, that he was on his 
way from Bermuda to Halifax, and would proceed the moment 
the Purser returned with provisions — That he had made New 
York by order of the Commander in Chief for such dispatches 
as might be here for him. Captain Whitby will probably sail 
for Halifax on Sunday. 1 



TO MR. MERRY. 

New York, 26 ,h April 1806. 
Sir. 

I received last Evening a letter from Captain Nairne Com- 
mander of His Majesty's Ship Cambrian acquainting me of 
his arrival off Sandy Hook on his way to the Southward and 
of the Driver Sloop of War being in company with him. — It 
appears that the Cambrian went from Bermuda to Halifax, 
landed Captain Beresford the Senior Officer on that Station, 
refitted and sailed immediately on a cruise. 

I am under the painful necessity to inform you that ac- 
counts have been received here last Evening, that the Leander 
in firing on an American Coaster coming into the Hook, killed 
the man at the Helm. — It is an accident much to be regretted 
and will occasion much ill will on the part of the Americans. 
I shall take occasion this day to recommend more caution to 
Captain Whitby the Commander of the Leander, and intreat 
that he and the two other ships of war, will not approach so 
near the American Coasts, or at least when in such a situation 
that they abstain from all acts which may give offence — The 

1 April 27. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-180G 231 

Leander will proceed for Halifax the first fair Wind — The 
Cambrian on a cruize to the Southward — I am ignorant of 
the destination of the Driver. 



TO CAPTAIN WHITBY. 

New York, 26 th April 180G. 
Sir. 

M r Gullet delivered your letter dated off Sandy Hook, which 
was written as he tells me on the 23 d ins'. 

Three Mails from Falmouth and several other dispatches for 
the Naval Commander in chief at Halifax were forwarded 
some days since by the Princess Mary Packet to Halifax. I 
have not at present any dispatches — 

It was my intention to have requested you to have carried 
some money for the use of his Majesty's Forces in Nova Sco- 
tia; but the accident which occurred to you last Evening in 
Killing by a Shot from the Leander, a man at the helm of a 
sloop coming into the Hook, has so irritated the minds of the 
people of this place, that I fear they will destroy the boat with 
provisions on board ; and should she leave this in safety pur- 
sue and plunder her. In addition to this as the wind is from 
the Eastward attended with Rain and thick weather, you will 
Keep off shore, and consequently the Boat be obliged to wait 
within the Hook until it clears up — Under these Circum- 
stances I think it would be imprudent to risque the money — 

Your own good Sense will naturally point out to you that 
the death of this man (which I am sure on your part was un- 
intentional) will occasion serious compl ts on the part of the 
American Government. The sooner therefore that you leave 
the Coast the better; and I think it advisable that the Cam- 
brian and Driver also withdraw. 

I shall not feel easy until I learn that M r Lawrence and 
Gullet are safe on board Ship — They will leave this privately 
— Be pleased to present my best regards to Captain Beresf ord. 



232 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 
TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 27 th April 180G. 
Sir. 

You have been informed by my letter of the 26 th Instant 
that His Majestys Ships Leander Cambrian and Driver were 
off this Port, and that on the Evening of the 25 th Instant a 
man belonging to a Sloop from the Delaware to this place had 
been killed by a shot from the Leander — I was made ac- 
quainted with this accident early in the morning of the 26 th 
through the medium of the News Papers, and was convinced 
it would create much violence in this City. — A Boat which 
the Purser of the Leander had laden with Beef, Live Stock 
and other Refreshments and necessaries for the officers and 
men of that Ship, was therefore hurried from the Wharf, in the 
hope that she might get to the Leander before the public mind 
became so agitated as to prevent it. Her departure however 
was discovered and two fast sailing Boats were despatched to 
over take and bring her back. In this they succeeded and re- 
turned with her in Triumph about 3 oClock in the afternoon 
of that day. A mob was collected and the Articles placed on 
about twenty Carts, on the first of which I am informed the 
British colours were placed on a Pole round and under the 
American Flag. With Drums beating they paraded the City 
with the articles destined for the Leander and eventually de- 
posited them in the Alms House for the use of the Poor. The 
Mob then proceeded some little distance towards S* Pauls 
Church where they burnt the British Colours and after passing 
down Broadway to White Hall peaceably dispersed. — It was 
frequently urged by several of them both on the wharff, when 
they were loading the Carts and while parading the Streets, to 
go and ransack the British Consuls House — Others cried out, 
level it with the Ground, while the less violent proposed tak- 
ing and detaining me a Prisoner until Captain Whitby was 
given up to be tried for the murder of this man. Through the 
prudence of some respectable Characters the mob were diverted 
from assailing my house or insulting my person. — This unfor- 
tunate accident has created much ill blood in this City. The 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-1806 233 

Body of the deceased has been exposed to public View, in 
order to inflame the minds of the Vulgar and to render the ac- 
cident subservient to party views at the ensuing election which 
commences Tomorrow — The inclosed hand bill will give you 
an Idea of the violence which subsists here. 

Under a conviction that that Commander of His Majestys 
Ship Leander is at this moment ignorant of the Circumstances, 
I have written to the Mayor for permission to go or send to him, 
that he may be made acquainted therewith. I have also re- 
quested his permission for the four officers of that Ship, who 
I understand are concealed in or near this City, to go and join 
her. A copy of my letter to the Mayor I have the Honor to 
inclose — 



TO DE WITT CLINTON. 

New York 2?" April 180G. 
Sir 

No one more deeply regrets than I do the unfortunate and 
fatal accident that has so strongly excited the Sensibility of 
this City, a regard for whose peace, as well as a desire to ap- 
prize the Commander of His Majestys Ship Leander of this oc- 
currence make it in my opinion highly expedient that I be 
permitted to transmit to this officer an account of what has 
happened, and of which at this moment, I believe, he remains 
uninformed — 

It is proper likewise that I inform you, that four of His 
Majestys officers who came to this City two days before the 
Accident, and who are desirous of returning to the Leander 
are now in or near this City. 

Under these circumstances it becomes my duty to request of 
you, as the first Magistrate of the City, that I may be per- 
mitted to go or send on board His Majestys Ship Leander for 
the purpose of informing the Commander of the unfortunate 
death occasioned by a shot from that Ship ; and of the Sensi- 
bility and Resentment which the same has created throughout 
the City. It is also my duty to request that the four officers 



234 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

in question be allowed at the same time to go on board the 
Leander. 

I am influenced on this occasion by an earnest desire to do 
my duty to the King my Master — to secure the Peace of this 
City and to promote the continuance of that good understand- 
ing and Harmony that happily subsists between our respective 
Countries — 



TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 29 th April 1806 
Sir 

I have the Honor to inclose to you a copy of the Answer of 
the Mayor of New York to my letter of the 27 th Instant — 

You will perceive that the Mayor passes in silence that part 
of my letter which relates to the officers being permitted to re- 
turn to their Ships, but his refusal to assent is contained in his 
general reply, "that he is unwilling to adopt any measures 
however inconsiderable until he has received orders from the 
Government " — "With respect to my going or sending he adds 
that as the laws of these States permit it, there is no occasion 
for his authorization — This answer from the Mayor amounts 
to a refusal, because he Knows that the Citizens are prohibited 
by certain resolutions passed at a public meeting on the night 
of the 27 th Instant from having any intercourse with His Maj- 
estys Ships — and at the time I delivered him my letter above 
mentioned, I explained fully to him, that the cause of my ap- 
plication for his permission was to remove the consequences of 
the Inhibition contained in those resolutions — 

My object was to get the officers once more on board their 
Ships, to have forwarded the Affidavits respecting the death of 
Pearce, and to have recommended to the Commander the pro- 
priety of his Keeping at a greater distance from the American 
Line of marine Jurisdiction. — . 

I have been unwearied in my exertions to hire a Vessel to go 
down to the Ships — No man dares increase the public resent- 
ment by communicating with them. Captain Whitby is there- 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-1806 235 

fore kept in ignorance of the accident and of the public irrita- 
tion of which you will perceive the Mayor partakes largely 
from the expressions contained in his letter to me. I have al- 
ready informed you in my private letter that I have reason to 
believe the continuance of this inhibition, depends on the re- 
turn of the Pilot Boat sent off on Saturday evening for the 
purpose of retaking the American Vessels sent to Halifax for 
adjudication. But there is reason to apprehend that the Com- 
mander of His Majesty's Ships will come up and enforce the 
delivery of his officers — Such a measure would naturally pro- 
duce very serious consequences — I have made up my mind not 
to have any Agency in privately conveying the officers on 
board their Ships, who came here on Business and who if they 
are not allowed to transact that Business should at least be 
permitted to return in safety — 



TO CAPTAIN WHITBY. 

New York 1" May 1806 

Sir 

I received at 10 oClock last night your letter of the 30 th of 
April, and went immediately to see Lieut Cowan who was the 
Bearer of your dispatch, and had very properly stopped at Fort 
Jay, 1 and to the Mayor of this City to enquire of him what an- 
swer he intended to make to your requisition and whether he 
would permit the officers of your Ship and of the Cambrian 
to return with Lieut Cowan. He replied that he never had 
prevented those officers from returning to their Ships whenever 
they thought fit to go. — I answered that I believe it true that 
he never had publickly forbid them going, but his declining to 
comply with my request of the 27 th Instant to grant them leave, 
was tantamount to a refusal, because he knew that by a set of 
resolutions of the Merchants and other Citizens of the 26 th Ins* 
all intercourse had been prohibited between this City and His 
Majesty's Ships, and therefore if I had sent those officers down 

1 Governor's Island. 



236 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

(admitting it possible to have procured a conveyance) I should 
have had the mortification to have seen them brought back, 
and probably subject to the violence and insult of a mob. — 
That he could not but know that the Pilot Boat had orders to 
intercept all Vessels attempting to make either of His Majes- 
tys Ships. — After some little further conversation the Mayor 
told me, he did agree to their going and that he would send me 
some time this day an answer to be forwarded to you. — 

As I am anxious that the officers should be restored to you 
immediately, I have resolved to send them without the Mayor's 
reply to you, and shall forward it by the first Conveyance after 
it comes to hand, writing you more fully on this unpleasant 
subject. Had not M r Cowan arrived, the officers were to have 
attempted, getting on board for which purpose a Boat was in 
readiness — I shall write you more fully during the day. The 
appearance of rain & thick weather induces me to not to de- 
tain the Gentlemen — 

I hope you rec'd during Yesterday letters from M r Lawrence 
and myself which were put on board a Vessel for Martinique 
and which M r Dupoy the owner of the Vessel promised me 
should be delivered to you — 



TO DE WITT CLINTON. 

New York 1 st May 1806 
Sir 

I regret that I am under the necessity of again stating to 
you, that it is indispensably necessary that the officers of His 
Majesty's Ships of War Leander and Cambrian return to their 
respective Ships, and that without your Sanction and. protec- 
tion it is dangerous and impracticable for them to attempt it. 
I am well informed that there are persons in this City laying 
in wait to intercept those officers if they attempt to leave this 
City, and that there are Boats stationed near Sandy Hook to 
prevent any Vessels from communicating with either of His 
Majesty's Ships — I am also assured that if the officers are 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-1806 237 

taken in endeavouring- to join their Ships, that they will be 
brought back to this City, where their persons will be insulted 
and their lives endangered. — 

Under these assurances it is my duty to require of you, as 
the chief Magistrate in this City, a safe conveyance for the offi- 
cers from hence to one of His Majesty's Ships now laying off 
the Bar at Sandy Hook waiting their return — Be pleased to 
favor me with an answer. 



TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 3* May 1806. 
Sir. 

On the Evening of the 20 th of April a cutter under the sanc- 
tion of a Flag of Truce arrived from the Commander of His 
Majestys Ships off Sandy Hook at Fort Jay or Governors 
Island immediately opposite to this City. The officer who came 
up in the Cutter placed himself under the protection of the 
American officer at Fort Jay, and delivered him a letter from 
Cap* Whitby the Commander of His Majestys Ships off Sandy 
Hook to the Mayor of this City, and another for myself, en- 
quiring as to the cause of the detention of his officers and re- 
questing that they should be permitted to return to their ships. 
Disavowing an intention to kill any man on board the Sloop, 
of which I have already stated to you the circumstances and 
stating that the cause of the accident was owing wholly to the 
obstinacy of the master who would not bring to, to be ex- 
amined. — 

I waited that night in person on the Mayor on the subject 
of this application, who assured me he would give every facil- 
ity in his power to effect the return of the officers. At noon 
of the following day, I again met him by appointment to con- 
fer with him and the officer Commanding at Fort Jay on the 
mode to be adopted, when it was proposed by him, that the of- 
ficer who came up with Cap* Whitbys letter should immedi- 
ately return, and that an armed Boat from Fort Jay should 



238 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

attend him until he had proceeded so far as to be in safety 
from any attack which might be made upon him from the In- 
habitants of this City; and that he the Mayor would procure 
a Pilot Boat to take the officers, who arrived on the* 23 d of 

April, down to their ships during the ensuing night. — The 
Mayor then read to me a part of his answer to Captain Whitby, 
wherein he stated that the officers had never been detained, that 
they might have returned when they pleased; but if I thought 
their persons were in danger, he was ready to grant them safe 
conduct, on a request from me to that purport. 

I told the Mayor, I could not but wonder at this statement 
to Tapt. Whitby. That a prohibition to the Inhabitants of the 
City to have any communication with the Ships by resolves of 
a numerous meeting, and the placing of Pilot Boats to prevent 
any Vessel from going to His Majestys Ships, was in fact de- 
taining the officers, by depriving them of a conveyance. That 
my letter to him of the 27 tt of April, a ropy whereof I have 
sent to you. contained a request for his permission for those 
officers to return to their ships, and that his permission natur- 
ally would have included a protection. That the declaration 
contained in his answer to my letter of the 27 tb of April, towit 
that ,, he did not feel willing to adopt any steps however in- 
considerable until he obtained instructions from the President 
of the United States." added to his passing over in silence that 
part of my letter which respected those officers appeared to me 
a refusal to grant them his permission to return to their Ships. 
However as he had stated to Captain Whitby that he would 
give the officers safe Conduct to their Ships, on an application 
from me. I would repeat my request for that purpose. A copy 
of this letter 1 have the Honor to inclose. 

The Mayor then directed one of the Pilots to take the offi- 
cers that night on board their Ships, and 1 understand they 
got on board about 3 oVlock yesterday Morning, soon after 
which both Ships the Leander and Cambrian left the Station. 
The former for Halifax the latter on a cruize to the South- 
ward. — 

Much as 1 regret the accident of an American Seaman hav- 
ing been killed by a shot from His Majestys Ship Leander: 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-1806 2:]9 

still 1 feci it my duty to add that a very improper use has been 
m;id<' of this unpleasant circumstance, by converting it into a 
political weapon, which the Federal and Republican Parties 
have used against each other, but at the same time has made 
the unhappy effort to influence the passions of the vulgar to 
an extravagant degree, against the British Government, and 
the officers of His Majestys Ships then near Sandy Hook. 



TO CAPTAIN WHITBY. 

New York G ,h May 1800. 
SlE. 

Your letter of the 2' 1 of May I have this moment received. 
M r Lawrence I had hoped would have informed you of every 
circumstance which occurred from his arrival in this City on 
the night of the 2I}' 1 of April to that of his departure on the 
first of May. — On the morning of the 26 th of April, I wrote to 
you, by the Boat that was to have taken down the Provisions, 
si ,il i ny the accident which had happened and the improper use 
that had been made of it, by both Parties in this City then 
canvassing for a contested Election — The Boat, as M r Law- 
rence must have informed you, was pursued by a party of 
armed men and brought back — What became of the letter I 
know not, as it fell into the hands of some of the party. On 
the 27 of April I again wrote to you detailing every circum- 
stance, but found it impracticable to procure a conveyance for 
the letter. On the 28 I wrote another letter in continuation to 
that of the preceeding day, but was equally unsuccessful as to 
the conveyance. On the 30 th a M r Dupoy a Merchant in this 
city to whom I got a friend to make the proposal, agreed that 
on my becoming bound that his Brig should not be detained 
by yourself or the Captains of either of the Ships under your 
Command, that the Captain of His Brig (then going to the 
West Indies) should deliver my despatches to you at Sandy 
Hook — These dispatches contained three letters from myself, 
and from M r Lawrence, copies of the letters which had passed 
between the Mayor of this City and myself, on the subject of 



240 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

the officers detained here from your Ship, and a regular file of 
News papers from the 26 tb to the 30 th of April. I have since 
understood that the Master of the Brig did not comply with 
his owners orders, but proceeded to sea while His Majesty s 
Ships were at Anchor. To these circumstances you are to at- 
tribute not hearing from me, until Lieut. Cowan's return. In 
my letter to you of the first of May, I made mention of having 
sent those letters by the Brig. 

I am confident Sir, that I have done my duty to His Majesty 
and to you, and that it was no more in my power to command 
conveyances, than it is in yours to control the "Winds ; and I 
had hoped you would have rested satisfied that every thing 
that could be effected, would have been done by me. My anx- 
iety to give you notice was at least equal to yours to receive it. 
I have detailed the occurrence f ulty to Captain Beresford Com- 
manding on the Halifax Station, and forwarded him Copies of 
the Communications between me and the Mayor of this City. 
These I have requested him to communicate to you. 

You are perfectly at Liberty to make what comments you 
please on what you have thought proper to style my silence 
provided they are founded on reason and truth. 

Hasty decisions are generally incorrect, and I trust you will 
after the perusal of this letter and the full communication I 
have made to the Naval Commander in Chief acquit me of in- 
attention, and feel that your opinion with respect to myself 
was made up at a moment, when it was not in your power to 
judge correctly. 

I was yesterday told by Peacok the Butcher, that he was to 
receive payment for the Articles forcibly taken from the Boat 
going down to you. Should he fail, an application shall be 
made by me. 

TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 13 th May 1806. 
Sir. 

I have the Honor to inclose to you copies of a letter from 
Henry Whitby Esq r Commander of His Majestys Ship Lean- 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-1806 241 

der to me, with my answer, and a letter from me to Captain 
Beresford the present Commander in Chief of His Majesty s 
►Ships of War on the Halifax Station. — 

From a perusal of these I trust you will be satisfied that 
every exertion was made on my part to communicate with 
Captain Whitby, while he was off this Port. Should this be 
the case, I have to intreat you will fully acquit me of Captain 
Whitbys charge of silence and inattention in your report to 
His Majestys Ministers. The facts can be verified under the 
Oaths of four or five persons of respectability, if deemed 
necessary. 

Between the 26 th of April and second of May; it was almost 
unsafe for me to leave my house, had I made my appearance 
on the Wharves or at the Coffee House insult and probably 
personal injury would have been the consequence. — I once 
had it in contemplation to have sent the Pacquet with my let- 
ters to Captain Whitby, but not any of the Pilots would have 
navigated her, and as the Ship was insured, her indemnity 
would have been on my shoulders, in the event of a deviation ; 
besides as the time of her sailing was well known, had she at- 
tempted to move, she would have been arrested by the popu- 
lace ; indeed the Packet was more than once in danger during 
this period. — You will from my communications to the Mayor 
and his answer to me, observe that I requested from him and 
the Collector the use of the Revenue Cutter, then lying at 
Anchor in this port, for the purpose of going or sending 
to Captain Whitby to inform him of the accident, and the 
Mayor declining to allow that Vessel to go. — In truth every 
means of communication was cut off ; and I by accident dis- 
covered that a Man who I really believed a confidential per- 
son, and who I wished to hire to go down to His Majestys 
Ships, went and laid my proposal before the Mayor, and when 
he returned told me, he was afraid to undertake it, under 
a conviction that it could not be effected, and that he should 
be ever after odious to his fellow Citizens if detected. 



242 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

TO CAPTAIN BERESFORD. 

New York 28 th May 180G. 

(Private.) 
My dear Sir. 

I received by the last Packet your affectionate letter of the 
9 th of May. — I am wholly ignorant of the correspondence be- 
tween Capt Whitby and the Mayor, except that part of the 
Mayors answ T er w r hich respected my not having applied to him 
for his protection, for the safe conveyance of the officers from 
hence to His Majesty's Ships near Sandy Hook. On this Point 
I have already fully informed you in my letter of the 2 d of 
May and laid before you Copies of the letters that passed be- 
tween me and the Mayor on that subject. It is probable how- 
ever that M r Merry has taken notice in his communications 
with you of this correspondence, as he stated some days since 
to me that in consequence of Captain Whitby's letter to the 
Mayor of this City, the President had resolved to put the 
whole of the Act of Congress of March 1805 into force — M r 
Merry did not make any other remarks on the letter, nor has 
the President published a second proclamation. — 

Great Britain at the present moment has a sufficiency of En- 
emies to contend without adding the Americans to the number, 
and the export of her manufactures in consequence of the late 
measures stands now in a great degree limited to America, a 
War therefore with these States would be very unpopular and 
prejudicial. — I do not from hence intend to infer either that I 
think a war probable, because I know it to be of all things 
what the Americans most deprecate, or that Great Britain to 
avoid a War, should cede a particle of her rights ; but that we 
should if possible preserve an amicable intercourse with 
them. — In my last private letter, I took the Liberty to advise 
you until you was superseded in your command, or received 
explicit orders from Government, to consult with Judge Croke 
and the Chief Justice, on the subject of the orders you might 
give to the captains of the Ships under your Command, re- 
specting neutral rights and Jurisdiction.— The Laws of Na- 
tions on this subject are vague and uncertain, and in most 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-1806 243 

cases have been promulgated under the influence of temporary 
power. Reason however must assign a certain portion of the 
Sea, contiguous to the territory of every Government, as within 
their just Jurisdiction, and those limits on the narrowest pos- 
sible Scale are a Gun shot from the Shore, (which taking a wide 
range may be called three miles) not from their Batteries, be- 
cause it may so happen that the Government may have no 
Batteries near the Sea — I am sure my dear friend your inten- 
tions are right, and I have a perfect confidence that your orders 
will be dictated by sound sense and prudence — 



Sir 



TO VICE-ADMIRAL BERKELEY. 

New York 30 th Sept r 1S0G 



By this day's Mail I have received letters from Baltimore 
and Norfolk, stating that the French Ship Patriot Capt Ro- 
chon of 74 Guns had arrived at Annapolis in Maryland and the 
Sybelle of 44 Guns at Norfolk in Virginia, both under Jury 
topmasts, much disabled, and that the Patriot has thrown 
many of her Guns overboard — These Ships with the remain- 
der of the Squadron under Admiral Williams & Jerome Bona- 
parte, were on the 19 th of August (after having been on this 
coast) about 100 Leagues to the Southward of Bermuda, when 
they encountered a Storm which lasted until the 21 st — During 
the Gale the Squadron separated, and the officers of the Patriot 
have expressed their fears that some of the Ships have foun- 
dered. These two Ships after the Gale made for the Chese- 
peak, and such as have weathered the Storm will probably 
also make for that Bay. 1 The Jamaica fleet of Merchant Ships 

i Willaumez sailed from Brest De- commerce. The Cape of Good Hope 

cember 14, 1805, with a small squad- surrendered before he could reach 

ron of six or seven vessels. His in- it, and on learning this fact he 

structions were to proceed first to shaped his course for the coast of 

the Cape of Good Hope, and thence South America and the West Indies, 

in such direction as he might deem His squadron was dispersed by a 

most calculated to injure British hurricane in August, 1806, as hero 



CO ! : ' N I S MAS tUKOl v\ 

exper one Gale about 80 Leagues to the Eastward 

of Bermuda, The Captain ofoue that wont down has arrived 
at Baltimore, who says he suspects many others shared the 

sorrj bo loam the aeeideut which has happened His 

ys Ship Chichester a Store Ship on going out the 

Pilot run her on shore. She has sustained so 

much injnrv that it has boon thought nooossary for her to nn- 
\ ; to be hove down — Col; Hamilton the 

Consul there writes me many ol her men have, and he appre- 
hends most of the others will desert — l 



1 mi;, pox, 

v-u Fork September L8Q6. 

l yes . .t Letter from Baltimore in Maryland of 

which the following is v-.-aot. — 

. Ship Patriot of 74 Gruns Captain Roehon an- 
Annapolis Road in a verj shattered con- 
dition her Topmasts all gone, & a number of her (Inns tl 
overboard a French Frig- - be the Cybelle) 

(vims, has also an Norfolk about the ;>0" August dis- 

- 

"Th< - V ssels are part of the Fleet under the Command 

u " ••• \ Jerome Bonaparte which was dispersed on the 

v.: ■'•". I tes to the Southward of Bermuda, 

o the U 1 ' & eontinned to the 21*" & the 

Ou Casse, I. os 

• wae bo- l Similar lo: 
Virginia toea©] .., HtuKAvh- 

N ratio tit ' ; 

. .v -o bVr- 

- that Jo- . 1806, 

I irom after Mr. EWs death. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-180G 245 

officers think some of the Ships must have gone down, none 
of the others had arrived in the Chesapeake on the 1 st In- 
stant." — 

" They had made no Captures of any Consequence that I 
can learn, except one or two small Bermuda Vessels. — It is 
with much concern I have to inform you that the Fleet from 
Jamaica consisting of about 100 sail which left that Island 
about the l Bt Aug* experienced the Gale on the 20 th 100 Leagues 
East of the Capes of Virginia one of them the Cumberland of 
Leith foundered & the Captain who has arrived here fears 
some of the others have gone down." 

You must long since have been informed that this Fleet had 
been in the West Indies but very fortunately did little or no 
mischief. — Early in August the} r were seen near Charleston 
South Carolina and some days after that about 40 Leagues to 
the Southward of this Port. It was generally at that time 
supposed that they were on their way to Boston to refit, but 
from the Latitude and Longitude they were in on the 20 th of 
August they must have shaped a South Easterly course either 
in the hope of meeting the Jamaica Convoy or to regain the 
West Indies. — I am happy to announce to you that they have 
hitherto done very little injury to British Ships. Some Ameri- 
can Captains have been on board this fleet they all agree that 
they were wretchedly manned, their Masts, Spars and rigging 
in a miserable state, and short of Provisions and water. 



TO MR. MERRY. 

New York G Sept/ 1806. 
Sir. 

The British Letter of Marque Brig Fox, John Thomas Mas- 
ter arrived at this place from Jamaica on or about the 12 th of 
August last past. On the 18 th of that month Charles Mathews, 
George Robinson, John Reid and Edward Hicks four of the 
crew of the Brig : went before the officers of the Police of this 



246 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

City and made oath, that Thomas the Master had on the pas- 
sage willfully murdered a negro man (one of the Ships Com- 
pany) named John Good by cruelly and wickedly "beating him. 
In consequence of their depositions Captain Thomas was ap- 
prehended and committed, a Bill of Indictment has since been 
found against him, and he has been arraigned — By advice of 
His Counsel he has pleaded to the Jurisdiction of the Court, 
stating that he is a subject of His Britannic Majesty, that the 
crime (if any) having been committed on board a British Ship 
on the high Seas is only cognizable in a British Court. This 
plea has been overruled by the district Judge of the district 
Court of the United States, and he has been ordered to plead 
in chief guilty or not guilty. The latter will be his plea, which 
he declares to me to be the truth. From the papers I have the 
Honor to inclose you will perceive that William Hearst the mate 
or first officer of the Brig and Charles Gauverneau the Pas- 
senger have deposed the reverse of the four Seamen ; they are 
unquestionably more worthy of credit than the common Sea- 
men, and under the circumstances I advised the master some 
days since to stand his trial, but Business having called Mr. 
Gauverneau to Canada, and having now only the testimony of 
the mate to oppose to the oaths of the four Seamen, his Coun- 
sel have advised him to apply to you, through me, to demand 
him as a British Subject, to be sent to Great Britain or Ja- 
maica for his trial. — I inclose therefore the certified docu- 
ments delivered to me by them. Under the late treaty of 
Amity Commerce and Navigation between his Majesty and 
the United States of America there could be no doubt of your 
right to demand him, as a person charged with murder : but 
as that treaty has expired, he can now only be demanded un- 
der the Laws of Nations. Captain Thomas' counsel are of 
opinion that the Prejudices of American Jurors against Brit- 
ish Subjects are too great for him to risque his Life on their 
verdict. They hope to put off the trial until your answer can 
be obtained, by making an affidavit that Gauverneau is a ma- 
terial Witness.— No time however is to be lost, as the district 
court are now sitting. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-1806 247 

TO ME. MEEEY. 

New York 9 Sept r 180G. 

(Private.) 
Dear Sir. 

I was all day yesterday employed in search of a fast sailing 
Vessel to carry the Letters to Admiral Berkeley, but did not 
find any that could be ready before Thursday; and as the 
Lark a very fine fast sailing British Schooner a constant Tra- 
der sails for Halifax tomorrow I have thought it best to send 
them by her, the master having promised to carry a press of 
sail to expedite the delivery of the letters. Two objections 
lay to the hiring a Pilot Boat. The Pilots of this Port are 
all Democrats and much attached to the French. Secondly 
the price per day of a Pilot Boat is twenty-five dollars. 
There is too much reason to suspect had I hired one, they 
would have delayed her passage to Halifax and possibly back 
again ; at all events no confidence could have been placed 
in them ; and before they engaged with me they would have 
consulted the Mayor 1 who is a Frenchman in Grain, who 
either would have prevented the contract, or rendered the let- 
ters nugatory.— I had written Admiral Berkeley on Saturday, 
notifying him of the arrival of the Patriot and the Sybelle in 
the Chesepeak which letter is now in the Lark. I also advise 
Admiral Cochrane of the circumstance. I hope you will ap- 
prove of my having put the letters on board the Lark instead 
of a Pilot Boat — 



Sir. 



TO ME. FOX. 

New York, 29 th Sept r 1S0G 



I have the Honor to inclose to you a duplicate of my letters 
of the 4 th Instant, acquainting you with the Gale of Wind the 
French Fleet under Admiral Guillamez had encountered to the 



1 De Witt Clinton. 



248 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

Southward of Bermuda ou the 19, 20 & 21 of August, and of a 
Ship of the Line and a Frigate of that Fleet having got into the 
Chesepeak in a very wretched state, under jury topmasts and 
most of their Guns having been thrown overboard. — Since 
that the Valereux Frigate has got into the Delaware in a sim- 
ilar State, and the Eole a line of Battle Ship equally a wreck 
has arrived within the capes of Virginia — The Impetueux 
another of that fleet made the capes of Virginia some days 
since, but was discovered by the Melampus Frigate one of the 
Squadron who pursued and ran her on shore, took the officers 
and men out and burnt the Ship. I have understood that the 
officers and men were immediately landed and set at Liberty, 
having been taken within the American marine Jurisdiction — 
The Americans complain of the act of the burning of the 
French Line of Battle Ship within their Waters. 

A British Squadron under Sir R Strahan arrived off the 
Capes of Virginia about the 12 th of this month, from the best 
accounts this Squadron also suffered much during the Gale in 
August; and on the 20 th Instant Sir John Borlase Warren 
with six sail of the Line also arrived there : and I suspect con- 
tinue off and on the Capes in expectation of some of the French 
Ships arriving there. An American Captain who arrived here 
about a Week since states that he met Jerome Bonaparte in 
his Ship at Sea, on her way to France — It is generally sup- 
posed that the remainder of the French Ships foundered in the 
Gale — Those within the Capes, will probably remain some 
time, as they require great repairs, and it is said no merchant 
will advance money. 



TO MR. MERRY. 

New York 25 October 1S06 
Sir. 

It was not until late last Evening that I received an answer 
from the Counsel of Captain Thomas of the Brig Fox to the 
Communication contained in your N° 14 and the Copy of M r 
Madisons letter accompanying it. They are of opinion that an 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-1806 249 

appeal in Criminal Cases will not lay from the district Court 
to the Supreme Court of the United States ; altho the Laws 
have provided for an appeal in such cases : And that therefore 
the remedy proposed by the American Secretary of State if at- 
tempted would meet with a negative on the part of the Supreme 
Court of the United States, and probably in the first instance 
be over ruled by the District Judge. The Counsel are further 
of opinion that in a similar case if application had been made 
by any nation in amity with Great Britain for the delivery of a 
Subject of such nation charged with murder, that the person 
so charged would be delivered up ; and that a case can not be 
cited, wherein Great Britain has refused the application, and 
the Court proceeded to try and sentence the person so charged. 
They admit that applications have been made, and refused, but 
in such cases the murder was committed by the Foreigner on 
the high Seas on board a British Ship, iipon the principle that 
the Ship constituted the Jurisdiction.— M r Harison one of the 
Counsel for the Prisoner is allowed to be one of (if not) the sound- 
est Lawyer in America. — Unless therefore you feel yourself 
at Liberty to make a second application for the delivery of 
Thomas, and it proves more successful than the former, the 
poor man must go to Trial early in November under all the 
disadvantages of the want of Witnesses and probably a preju- 
diced Jury. 1 



TO VICE-ADMIRAL BERKELEY. 

New York 17 th November, 1S0G. 
Sir. 

In consequence of M r Merry's request for leave of absence ; 
The Honorable David Erskine has arrived at Washington in 
these States as His Majesty s Envoy Extraordinary and Minis- 
ter Plenipotentiary and has been received as such by the Presi- 
dent of the United States. 2 M r Merry has taken leave and 

1 No record of this case can now brought to trial, the evidence against 
be found in the Clerk's Office of the him being really very weak. 
United States District Court. It is 2 Mr. Erskine arrived at Washing- 
probable that Thomas was never ton, November 4, 1806. 



250 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

will sail from the Chesapeak in all tins month. M rs Merry's 
state of health is unequal to a Winter voyage — I have a pub- 
lie dispatch from M r Merry to you, but he has limited its con- 
veyance to the Ship of War or armed Vessel you may send 
during the Winter for your dispatches. — The September 
Packet is not yet arrived, in a few days the October will be 
due. — Accounts by private Ships from England, state that 
Lord Howie lias succeeded to foreign department vacant by 
M r Fox's demise, and that M r T Greville is first Lord of the 
Admiralty. 1 On the 26 th of September Lord Lauderdale had 
not returned from Paris; yet there was no expectation of 
Peace. — Russia and Prussia appear condensing their forces 
and making every preparation for War with France; who is 
equally active in her measures. 

The Valeureux French Frigate of 44 Guns which arrived 
after the August Gale in the Delaware and went up to Phila- 
delphia for repairs, has on a survey been found unworthy of 
them. — A fine American Ship the George Washington of up- 
wards of 400 Tons, with a figure head, quarter and Stern Gal- 
laries and new main topmast has been taken up to carry to 
France the men, Guns and Stores of this Frigate, she will sail 
about the 25 of this month. The Indiana another American 
Ship was a few days since along side the Valeureux taking 
from her such part of her Guns, Stores and men, as were sup- 
posed more than the Washington could carry, this last named 
ship will sail in a few days. As either of these ships would in 
the event of capture prove good and valuable prizes, I have 
dispatched two letters on Saturday last to Halifax, one to 
Norfolk and two by Vessels bound to the West Indies to 
be given to any of the Commanders of His Majestys Ships of 
War. I have little hope that either of my letters will arrive 
at Halifax in time to have a ship (if any is there) off the Dela- 
ware to meet the George Washington. But that of Norfolk I 
trust will be delivered this Evening, and it is probable one 
of the others may be put on board one of your Ships on this 
coast. 

1 Mr. Thomas Grenville, a brother of the Lord Grenville who was 
Secretary for Foreign Affairs from 1791 to 1801. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1804-1806 251 

TO LORD HOWICK. 1 

New York G ,b Dec' 1806. 
My Lord, 

I have the Honor to inclose to your Lordship the Speech of 
the President of the United States on the opening of the pres- 
ent Session of Congress. — 

It is asserted and generally believed, that M r Burr late vice 
President of the United States of America is at the head of 
that " great number of private Individuals who " (the Presi- 
dent in his Speech observes) " were combining together arm- 
ing and organizing themselves contrary to Law to carry on a 
military expedition against the territories of Spain." — The 
object of this combination is not known. What the President 
suggests may be correct ; but it appears to be the opinion of 
the best informed in these States, that M r Burr's views extend 
to a division of the United States of America, and creating a 
new Government in the Western part thereof — 

1 On Mr. Fox's death, September but on September 24, Lord Ho wick, 
13, 1806, the Foreign Office was com- afterward Earl Grey, became Sec- 
mitted to Earl Spencer ad Interim ; retary for Foreign Affairs. 



CHAPTER VI 

CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 

The same month of April that witnessed the killing 
of Pearce had witnessed also the beginning of that 
long and fruitless struggle which Jefferson and Madison 
carried on, in the vain hope of compelling the European 
belligerents to respect the just rights of the United 
States as a neutral nation. On April 15, 1806, Congress 
had passed the non-importation act, prohibiting the im- 
portation of a long list of British manufactures, and 
this had been immediately followed by the appointment 
of William Pinkney of Maryland as a special envoy to 
England. Pinkney was instructed to unite with Mon- 
roe, then American Minister to England, in one more 
effort to effect an amicable settlement of all differences ; 
but they were to agree to no treaty which did not in- 
clude a renunciation of the right of impressment, and 
which did not satisfactorily settle the questions con- 
nected with the West India trade. Pinkney had joined 
Monroe in London late in July, and negotiations had 
since been actively carried on with the government of 
which Mr. Fox was the head. 

This was the situation at the beginning of the year 
1807, so far as was known in America ; but important 
events had, in fact, happened in Europe, of which the 
news had not yet arrived. On the last day of the year 
1806 Monroe and Pinkney had succeeded in getting the 
British commissioners to sign a treaty of amity, com- 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 253 

nierce, and navigation. The negotiation had been greatly 
facilitated by the simple process of disregarding the pos- 
itive instructions of the President. But even then the 
British negotiators were not entirely content with the 
terms of the treaty, and they accompanied their signa- 
tures by a written warning that the King would decline 
to ratify their act unless the United States should forci- 
bly resist the operation of Napoleon's Berlin decree. 

The Berlin decree, which was soon to become familiar 
throughout the United States, was dated November 21, 

1806. It undertook, by a mere edict of the Emperor's, 
to prohibit all commerce, even in neutral vessels, be- 
tween the British islands or colonies and any part of the 
European continent which was under the control of 
France ; it declared the British islands to be in a state 
of blockade ; and it directed the confiscation of any ves- 
sel which entered a continental port after having been 
in any British possession. 

The English Government were not slow to reply. In 
addition to calling upon the United States to resist the 
decree, an order in council was issued on January 7, 

1807, by which all trade was forbidden between any 
two ports on the continent of Europe. The doctrine 
that one nation could forbid another to trade peace- 
fully between two foreign ports, was certainly novel. 
But the British authorities were still not satisfied. 
They went further, and by a second order in council, 
dated November 11, 1807, they forbade all trade with 
the continent wherever originating, unless the goods 
first passed through an English port and paid a duty at 
an English custom-house. 

Napoleon, in his turn, retaliated by the Milan decree 
of December 17, 1807. Every neutral vessel was to 
be condemned which had submitted to be searched by 



254 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

a British ship, or had paid duty to the British Govern- 
ment, or had corne from or was bound to any British 
possession. 

Such were the arbitrary decrees and orders by which 
neutral commerce was attacked on every side. The 
British Government allowed no neutral ship to go to the 
continent but by way of England. The French seized 
every neutral ship that came from any British port. 
The British Government declared they would be friends 
with the United States only on condition of our forci- 
bly resisting the Berlin decree. Napoleon declared that 
he would confiscate every American ship which did not 
forcibly resist any attempt of a British man-of-war to 
search her. 

The news of this general assault upon American com- 
merce — this declaration of both parties to the European 
contest that there should be no more neutrals — excited 
the deepest resentment in the United States. But it did 
not affect the action of the Government in regard to the 
British treaty. Before the news of the first order in 
council had reached Washington, Jefferson had per- 
emptorily declined to consider the question of ratifi- 
cation, or even to submit the treaty to the Senate. But 
strangely enough, he was still hopeful of success. In 
spite of the difficulties which Monroe and Pinkney had 
already experienced, in spite of new obstacles to an ad- 
justment, instructions were prepared looking to further 
negotiatioDs with England. This second attempt came, 
however, too late. The growing ill-will between the 
two countries, and the fall of the Whig administration 
early in 1807, had already served to render negotiation 
practically impossible ; when the attack of the Leopard 
upon the Chesapeake toward the latter part of June, 
aroused American feelings to a still higher pitch of an- 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 255 

ger. After months of discussion, and some idle at- 
tempts at obtaining satisfaction by diplomatic methods, 
public opinion at last found expression in the passage 
by Congress, on December 22, 1807, of the act of em- 
bargo, which absolutely closed the ports of the United 
States to foreign commerce of every kind. 

The effect on the city of New- York was instantaneous. 
Ships were hurried to sea, wharves were left deserted, 
counting-houses were shut up, and the ordinary duties 
of the British Consul-General came very nearly to an end. 

The United States comprised even then a great va- 
riety of resources within their borders, and were able 
— though doubtless at the expense of not a little suffer- 
ing — to dispense with foreign markets either for sell- 
ing or buying; but such a state of things could not 
long continue. Congress had never contemplated its 
duration beyond the time when loss of the American 
trade should make Europe more moderate in its views. 
But Europe was not to be moved by any peaceful ar- 
guments, and the experiment was of necessity aban- 
doned after a patient trial. All through the year 1808 
and the first two months of 1809, the heavy hand of the 
embargo was laid on American commerce. The close 
of Jefferson's administration was signalized by an im- 
portant change in the policy of the American Govern- 
ment. Almost the last act which Jefferson performed 
as President was to sign the new law which repealed 
the embargo, and substituted non-intercourse — a law 
which instead of universal prohibition of trade, merely 
prohibited commerce with Great Britain and with the 
countries under French control. The statute further 
authorized the President to suspend this prohibition as 
to either Great Britain or France as soon as one or the 
other should desist from violating neutral rights. 



256 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

An excuse for renewing commercial relations was 
not long delayed. On April 21, 1809, immediately upon 
the rather unexpected conclusion of a liberal and satis- 
factory diplomatic arrangement with Erskine, the Brit- 
ish minister in Washington, the non-intercourse act 
was suspended as to Great Britain ; and foreign trade, 
long dormant, suddenly sprang into excessive activity. 
This happy truce was short-lived. Erskine had effected 
his arrangement by a deliberate and almost defiant dis- 
regard of Canning's instructions; and his acts were 
promptly disavowed by his government. His recall 
was followed by a renewal of non-intercourse under a 
presidential proclamation of August 9, 1809. 

But notwithstanding the disavowal of Erskine, the 
British Government had made an apparent concession 
to the United States by the adoption of new orders in 
council which revoked the stringent prohibitions of 
the orders of 1807, and substituted a paper blockade of 
all ports and places under the government of France — 
a distinction which, on the whole, was perhaps without 
any important difference. France, on the other hand, 
entered upon a course of further aggressions. Louis 
Bonaparte was driven from his kingdom of Holland 
because he refused to attack neutral commerce, and all 
American ships found lying at Amsterdam were seized. 
Finally, by the decree of Rambouillet, every American 
ship found in any French port was confiscated and or- 
dered sold. 

England and the United States thus seemed for the 
moment to be slowly drawing together in the presence 
of a common enemy, when suddenly the whole situa- 
tion of affairs was changed by the formal announcement 
on August 5, 1810, of the Emperor's intended revocation 
of the decrees of Berlin and Milan, such revocation to 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 257 

take place on the first day of the following November, 
provided the British Government revoked their orders 
in council, or (and this was the important provision) 
the United States caused their rights to be respected. 
This promise, as Napoleon had privately pointed out 
a few days before, committed him to nothing; but it 
was accepted with all seriousness on the part of the 
United States. 

In reliance upon the imperial word, commercial in- 
tercourse with Great Britain — which had been once 
more resumed in May, 1810 — was for the third time 
suspended. This, it was thought, was " causing Ameri- 
can rights to be respected " ; and although the condem- 
nation of American ships weut on without a pause in 
every continental port, the Government of the United 
States clung with the strangest pertinacity to the belief 
that Napoleon's declarations were sincere. 

The practical effect of all this was to bar the door 
against any possible settlement with Great Britain. 
Commerce was now permanently suspended ; there was 
a long list of grievances to be redressed, and negotia- 
tion was exhausted. In the month of February, 1811, 
Pinkney — who had become the sole American repre- 
sentative in London — took an " inamicable leave," 
and further efforts looking to a peaceful settlement 
of our accumulated difficulties with England were 
abandoned. On November 4, 1811, Congress met in a 
perplexed but somewhat warlike humor. Much tedi- 
ous debate ensued. It was not until June 18, 1812, 
after many hesitations and misgivings, that war was 
actually declared against Great Britain. 

On July 9, 1812, Colonel Barclay, accompanied by 
the British Minister, sailed from New- York on H. M. S. 
Colibri for England. 



258 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

The six preceding years had been for Barclay a pe- 
riod of quiet prosperity. His life had been easy and 
happy. His fortune had increased through judicious 
investments and reasonable economy. His eldest son, 
Henry, was now well established as a merchant in New- 
York. De Lancey had been promoted to the rank of 
major in the British army on August 23, 1810, and 
lieutenant-colonel on February 28, 1812. Thomas, on 
June 8, 1808, had become Vice- Admiral Cochrane's 
flag-lieutenant, and on June 14, 1809, had been given a 
ship — commanding successively the Epervier, Sviap, 
and Peruvian — with the rank of commander. George 
had left Nova Scotia in 1808 to join Henry in business 
in New- York ; while Anthony had gone to England to 
complete his education and study for the bar. Only 
one break in the family had come by death. On July 
8, 1809, Schuyler Livingston, the husband of Barclay's 
eldest daughter, died at Harlem. 



TO VICE-ADMIRAL BERKELEY, BERMUDA. 

New York 24 January 1807. 
Sir 

Several fast sailing pilot boat Schooners and perhaps other 
Vessels have been for some time past employed in bringing 
Spanish Dollars from Vera Cruz to these States a great pro- 
portion of which I understand has been landed at New Or- 
leans, Savannah in Georgia, and Charleston South Carolina ; 
large sums also at Baltimore in Maryland and perhaps two or 
three hundred thousand dollars in this City. It is said and I 
believe with truth that the house of Mess rs Hope's of Amster- 
dam and an extensive house at Hamburg, have either pur- 
chased these Dollars from the King of Spain deliverable to 
them at Vera Cruz; or that they have contracted to bring 
I In ii i from thence and on their arrival in Europe, or the pro- 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 259 

ceeds from them to pay the Spanish Government — The Dol- 
lars when they arrive in these States I suspect are employed 
in purchasing Cotton Coffee Sugar &c &c &c which are re- 
mitted to Europe — The Schooner pilot Boats in which most 
if not all the money is brought, are low, long vessels, very 
sharp and sail fast. I thought it my duty to give you this in- 
formation and hope you may be so fortunate as to intercept 
some of them. M r Parish one of the House at Hamburgh is 
in these States superintending the Business, but he has re- 
spectable merchants in the Ports mentioned acting as his 
Agents, or perhaps in their own names 1 — 



TO MR. ERSKINE. 

New York 2 a February 1807 

(Private.) 
Dear Sir. 

I am this day honored with your private letter of the 30 th of 
January covering two Proclamations from Sir Eyre Coote 
Lieut Governor of Jamaica which I will take care to have 
inserted in the News Papers of this city. 2 

Previous to the receipt of your letter I had noticed in the 
Aurora a newspaper published in Philadelphia a violent Phil- 
ippic against me for the letter I had written in favor of 
Mess ra Rutgers and Seaman the owners of the American Ship 
Messenger, and of which M' Madison has complained to you. 3 

1 Copies of the foregoing letter land to Yorktown, and was appointed 
wei'e also sent to Vice-Adruiral Da- Governor of Jamaica in 1805 — a 
vies, Jamaica ; and Rear-Admiral post he held till 1808. He died in 
Cochrane, Barbadoes. obscurity and disgrace about 1824. 

2 They were proclamations per- 3 The "violent Philippic" was 
mitting the importation and expor- published in the Aurora January 29, 
tation of certain articles, for a lim- 1807. The following extracts will 
ited period, in neutral vessels. This give a sufficient notion of its purport: 
Sir Eyre Coote was a nephew of the 

better-known East Indian General "Warmly Federal." 

of the same name. He had served Wo pr0 n)i8e.l to say something about 

in I he A merica n War from Long Is- the ship Messenger ; we can say a great 



260 



CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 



Mess™ Rutgers and Seaman of this City Merchants and own- 
ers of the Messenger on hearing that their Ship, on board of 
which M r Herman Rutgers was super Cargo, had been sent to 
Halifax for adjudication requested of me a letter of introduc- 
tion and recommendation to some Gentleman of that place. 
In compliance with their solicitation I wrote a private confi- 
dential Letter, which I understand has been improperly inter- 
cepted and published, to M 1 Hartshorn e a merchant in Halifax, 
and knowing M r Hartshorne so far to have taken an interest in 
the Politics of these States as to have a predeliction for the 
federal Party to induce him the more readily to act in favor of 
these Gentlemen it is very probable I represented them, agree- 
able to their general characters, to be " warm Federalists " — 
With the Politics of this Country I never did nor will I ever 
interfere — Mess rs Rutgers and Seaman are Gentlemen of re- 
spectability in this City, of whom I have little personal Know- 
ledge, we do not visit, nor have I ever met them in company. 



deal more, than even what we now shall 
say ; and the new advocate of the " great 
sea robber" may, perhaps before we 
have done, wish that the thing had not 
been meddled with. 

"Mr. Rutgers is a gentleman and 
warmly federal" said Mr. Barclay.— 

Did you ever see a cat catch a mouse*! 

When a cat catches some kind of mice— 
they are eat up — they are devoured at 
once — smack — 'tis gone ! 

These are your democratic mice — we 
recollect that a great noise was made in 
congress some nine or ten years ago 
about such things. 

But there are rats, which the cats 
sometimes catch. Did you ever see a 
cat play with a rati 

One of your "warm federal" rats — 

Puss, when she catches this species of 
rats, lets them go a bit ; — then she puts 
out her nether paw and catches them 
again — you would suppose that she be- 
came fond of them, from the fraternal 
lings she gives them, she tosses them 
up —they are a little alarmed — the rats 
then cry out that they are "warmly 
federal." 

Puss lets them go then — but she sends 
them off in a direction from their natu- 



ral holes — and they fall into the proctor 
traps, and the lawyer traps, and the 
agency traps. There the rats again 
squeak out that they are "warmly fed- 
eral." 

They are then put under the great 
Tom cat of the admiralty — Puss catches 
them aud tosses them and j>aws them, 
and plays with them, and gives them 
hopes of escaping. 

But at last Tom Puss after amusing 
himself with them until he is tired of 
play— notwithstanding all their protes- 
tations of being " warmly federal rats 
and gentleman rats" pounces upon 
them, and devours and eats them, just 
as she would the democratic mice — the 
last squeak is all that is hoard of them — 
so of the ship Messenger. 

The object of the British government 
is to cramp your trade in order that they 
may monopolize it — for this they plun- 
der you, and care little whether federal, 
quiddical or democratical. They may 
not devour you at ouce, as hungry cats 
swallow mice, but they will play with 
you, and tantalize, and deceive you, as 
federal rats — but they will devour you 
all if they can at last. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 2G1 

But in describing a Gentleman, I suspect I am entitled to say- 
he is a Federalist or an antifederalist as he and the person to 
whom he is recommended may happen to be without giving of- 
fense to the opposite Party. Had these Gentlemen been anti- 
federal and M r Hartshorn es sentiments corresponded with 
theirs, I assuredly should have described them to him as such. 



TO ME. ERSKINE. 

New York 10 th March 1807. 
Dear Sir 

I am particularly indebted to you for your private letter of 
the 5 th Instant, at a moment when you must have been more 
than ordinarily hurried & I shall bear in memory this flatter- 
ing proof of your attention and regard, for which I iiftreat 
your acceptance of my warmest acknowledgments. I am 
sorry that a treaty formed on the part of His Majesty with 
every wish for consideration should not meet the approbation 
or at least the acceptance of the President of these States. 1 

On the impressment of American Seamen, I feel assured 
that the Commissioners of both nations on debating the 
Subject found insuperable difficulties, and on mature re- 
flection considered it best to pass it sub silentio. — The im- 
pressment has for years past been used as a political Engine, 
when in truth the number of bona fide American Seamen de- 
tained on board His Majestys Ships of War was trifling in the 
extreme when compared with those who were claimed by 
America as such. — The Note delivered by the British Comm IS 
to the American Com 18 prior to the signing of the Treaty 
was dictated by imperious circumstances and necessary for 

1 This was the treaty negotiated dent to submit the treaty to the Sen- 

by Monroe and Pinknoy and signed ate. This Mr. Jefferson steadfastly 

December 31, 1806. Erskine's copy refused to do. The treaty itself and 

arrived in Washington on March 3, accompanying correspondence is 

just as Congress was adjourning, and printed in Amer. State Papers, For. 

his unusual hurry was due tohisun- Rel., Vol. Ill, pp. 109-183. 
availing efforts to induce the Presi- 
17* 



262 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

the security of the Interest of Britain, I might add for the in- 
terest of America. 1 

If upon reflection you feel yourself at Liberty to entrust to 
me a copy of the treaty in confidence that it shall not be made 
public, otherwise than in arguing- on it, I think much good 
might be derived from an early development of the Articles 
attended with the natural remarks on the benefits or disadvan- 
tages accruing from each of them, and a candid enquiry into 
the purport of the note delivered with the Treaty. Should you 
concur in opinion with me, not a moment is to be lost in trans- 
mitting the Copy. The Public mind altho' much agitated is 
still in suspense for want of material to form an opinion. It 
is unnecessary to add that under these circumstances, a favor- 
able impression is of great consequence. 



TO VICE-ADMIRAL BERKELEY. 

New York 31 st March 1807. 
Sir. 

In the inclosed newspaper you will perceive a statement that 
the American Ship Brutus of this place bound for Gonaives a 
small Island near St Domingo, had exchanged some shots with 
His Majestys Sloop of War Squirrel.— If this should have 
been the case that ship has become a lawful prize, and I take 
it for granted you will be anxious to have her taken, in conse- 
quence of the very improper conduct of her Commander in fir- 
ing upon one of His Majestys Ships. M r Lewis the Supercargo 
or Agent on board this Ship, and who probably commanded 
her, is the very person who when he commanded the American 
Ship Leander fired into His Majestys Ship Fortunio and killed 
a seaman. 2 — What renders the conduct of M 1 Lewis particularly 

1 This extraordinary note is in bound by the signature of his com- 

Amer. State Papers, For. Rel., Vol. niissioners. 

Ill, p. 151. It was to the effect that 2 The Leander, commanded by 

unless the American Government Thomas Lewis, carried Miranda's 

should forcibly resist the enforce- filibusters to South America in Feb- 

ment of Bonaparte's Berlin decree, ruary, 1806. 
the King would not consider himself 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 263 

blarneable is his having promised me in the event of his meet- 
ing one of His Majesty s Ships of War at sea, that he would 
deliver up a desertor from the Packet, who had entered on 
board the Brutus, in consequence of which I gave him a letter 
of introduction to the Commander of His Majesty s Ships of 
War. 

The Brutus was bound to St Domingo for the recovery of 
Debts due a M r Ogden a Bankrupt, who also was on board that 
Ship, and to receive payment in Coffee and other articles. 
Capt Byam knows this Ship, as he saw her repeatedly when 
he was last here. — She is a french built Ship, figure head, 
Quarter galleries, but I do not recollect whether she has stern 
galleries. — When she arrived here from the Isle of France 
two years since her name was the James, since that the Em- 
peror, and now the Brutus. — She will remain some time at 
the Island of Gonaives. 



TO LOED HOWICK. 

New York 2 a June 1807. 

My Lord — 

M r Cazeaux a Frenchman who has resided as French Consul 
some years at Portsmouth in New Hampshire went last Au- 
tumn to France with an intention of remaining there. On his 
arrival he had an interview with the Emperor and several with 
Tallyrand in consequence of which he was sent out early this 
Spring to America, went to Washington to confer with the 
French Minister, and lias proceeded to Portsmouth with a view 
of entering Canada by the State of Vermont. — He has acquired 
during his residence in America the English language and 
American manners to a degree which will enable him to pass 
as an American, and there can be no doubt but his object is to 
sound the dispositions of the Canadians in the event of an at- 
tempt on Canada. Of all this I have informed M r Dunn ad- 
ministering the Government of Lower Canada, and gave him 
a particular description of his age, person and appearance, so 
that I hope he may be apprehended. — I have reason to expect 



264 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

he will endeavor to tamper with the inhabitants of Vermont 
and those parts of the State of New Hampshire and Massa- 
chusetts which lay nearest Canada, to induce them to cooper- 
ate with a French Force should they arrive in Canada. I have 
considered it my duty to communicate this to your Lord- 
ship, that it may be laid before His Majesty. Every means in 
my power shall be used to disclose the extent of M r Cazeaux 
mission to America — He is to return to France this Autumn. 



TO MR. CANNING. 1 

New York 2d July 1807. 
Sir. 

A very unpleasant occurrence has lately taken place at Sea 
off the Capes of Virginia between His Majesty s Ship Leopard 
and the American Ship of War Chesapeak ; of which you will 
undoubtedly receive much more correct information from M 1 . 
Erskine His Majesty s Minister to these States, and from M 1 . 
Hamilton the British Consul, than it is at present in my power 
to give you. 2 

I shall only therefore state that the circumstance is viewed 
by the respectable part of the Inhabitants of this City and the 
United States of America in a very serious point of view, and 
that the lower order of the American are much irritated and 
inclined for violent measures. 

I have the honor to inclose to you some of the American 
News Papers on the subject. 

TO MR. CANNING. 

New York 5th of August 1807. 
Sir 

You will naturally at the present moment be anxious to have 
any information from these States ; and although it is not im- 

1 George Canning became Secre- of Portland were at the head of the 

tary for Foreign Affairs April 8, administration. 

1807, on the dismissal of the Whig 2 The Leopard fired on the Chesa- 

I labinet. Mr. Perceval and the Duke peake June 22, 1807. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 265 

mediately within the line of my dnty to communicate with you 
on the present occasion perhaps it may not be disagreeable. 
The midshipman and seamen made prisoners on landing from 
one of His Majesty s Ships in Hampton Roads have by order of 
the President been returned — Preparations are making for the 
fortifying of this and the other principal Ports in these States. 
About fifty Gun Boats laying in ordinary in this place have 
been got ready for service — and 100000 militia are drafted for 
service on short notice. Congress are called for the 26 of Oc- 
tober about six weeks earlier than usual. 

I am satisfied that the rencounter between His Majesty's 
Ship Leopard and the American Frigate Chesapeak, will by 
the American Government be made the instrument of pressing 
on His Majesty's Ministers that the American Flag shall pro- 
tect all Seamen and passengers, other than Subjects of Pow- 
ers at War with Great Britain. What confirms this opinion 
is a late publication at Boston of an official Letter on this sub- 
ject in 1804 from M r . Madison the Secretary of State to M 1 . 
Monroe Minister at London. It must have been published at 
M r . Madison's instance, and at Boston that it might appear to 
come from a different Source and to operate on the minds of 
persons, who think very widely perhaps from M r Madison. — 

The Eastern States are averse to a War with Great Britain. 
In this State a great proportion of the respectable characters 
are of similar sentiments, but as you progress to the South- 
ward they are more warm, and in Maryland, Virginia and the 
Carolinas I suspect War would be a popular measure. It has 
been with great reluctance, that withiu these few weeks, I have 
been obliged to beheve the present administration in these 
States are not averse to war. What the inducement can be it 
is impossible to say. They are without Ships, or Land Forces ; 
and the Revenue drawn wholly from import duties dependant 
on Commerce. — 

By an act of Congress a part of the funded Debt is ordered 
to be purchased in half yearly by the Cashier of the United 
States Bank. About a fortnight since an order was issued 
from the Government that he should purchase no stock stand- 
ing in the name of a Foreigner, or which had been transfered 



2G6 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

by a foreigner to an American citizen subsequent to the first 
of July. — This measure is pointed to British Subjects, and 
evinces an inclination to sequester or confiscate their property 
should a war take place. 



TO VICE-ADMIRAL BERKELEY. 

New York 11 th August 1807. 
Sir. 

I yesterday received your letter of the fourth of July, in- 
forming me that the transaction off the Capes of Virginia be- 
tween His Majestys Ship Leopard and the United States Fri- 
gate Chesapeak had been much misrepresented in some of the 
American newspapers, which you was apprehensive might oc- 
casion animosity between the two Nations, that you thought it 
proper to inclose me a copy of the orders under which the Cap- 
tain of the Leopard acted, which you had not issued until an 
application to restore the mutineers and Deserters from the 
British Ships had been made by His Majestys Minister Con- 
suls and officers and had been rejected by the Government of 
the United States, and that I was at Liberty to promote the 
knowledge of their contents in whatever way I might think 
best calculated to preserve the good understanding which 
ought to subsist between Great Britain and America. 

Your orders to the Commanders of His Majestys Ships of 
War under your command have been some days since pub- 
lished in most of the American News Papers, and the fact that 
a regular and formal demand for the delivery of the Mutineers 
and Deserters had been made by the officers of His Majestys 
Ships in Hampton Roads and M' Consul Hamilton on the 
American officer who entered them as Seamen to serve on 
board the Chesapeak, and by M r Erskine His Majestys Minis- 
ter to these States, on the American Secretary of State to the 
same effect both which demands had respectively been re- 
fused, lias also received every possible publicity through the 
Medium of the American Newspapers. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 2G7 

I shall however take every opportunity to state the transac- 
tion in its real colours and as you wish it. 



TO VICE-ADMIRAL BERKELEY. 

New York [August, 1807]. 
Sir. 

I have received your original and duplicate letter of the 15 tb 
of July and the hand Bills which accompanied them. I had 
them posted up in the parts of this City, but they were the 
next day either mutilated or destroyed ; since which I have 
had your Proclamation offering a Pardon to Deserters pub- 
lished in the Newspapers, but as the Period for their surrender 
(to wit the 31st of August) was so nearly expired I omitted 
putting that or any other day of limitation in it, because in 
your Proclamation you hold out a Pardon to those Seamen 
only who shall immediately return to their duty. Every 
means in my power shall be used to make your proclamation 
generally known, and to invite British Seamen to avail them- 
selves of it. I am fearful however that but few will surrender 
themselves; because they get such enormous wages in the 
American Merchant Service. — Rendevous have been opened 
for entering Seamen for the American Navy. I understand 
very few here have entered, and those chiefly were of colour 
or Irish Lands men. — 

I have obtained from Captain Crafts a copy of his letter to 
M r Gallatin Secretary of the American Treasury respecting 
two men Deserters from the Melampus who were taken out of 
the Chesapeak by the Leopard, and who Commodore Barron 
of the Chesapeak had reported as our Newspapers state to be 
American Seamen impressed from the American Brig Neptune 
Crafts Master. I inclose a copy of this letter which I have had 
published in the newspapers you will perceive that the men 
deserted the Neptune and were not impressed and that Cap- 
tain Crafts was pleased with the Treatment he received from 
Captain Poyntz — If any British Seamen offer to enter His 
Majesty s Service, I will take care to forward them to you. 



268 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

You will pardon me for advising you that if you send a Ship 
of War off this Harbour, it would at the present critical mo- 
ment be prudent to direct that she should as little as possible 
interrupt Ships coming in or going out. The late violence is 
subsiding, the Eastern People are very moderate and opposed 
to a War with Great Britain. When Congress meet, they will 
strain every nerve to prevent it. I think it advisable there- 
fore not to furnish their opponents with fresh arguments. 



TO MR. CANNING. 

New York 2 d Sept r 1807. 
Sir. 

M r Gallatin the American Secretary of the Treasury having 
been lately in this City called on a Captain Crafts late Master 
of the American Brig Neptune for information respecting 
some Seamen who it was stated Commodore Barron had re- 
ported to have been impressed from the Neptune in the Bay 
of Biscay in the year 1805 by His Majestys Ship Melampus, 
two of which men Ware and Martin were taken from the 
American Frigate Chesapeak in June last as Deserters from 
His Majestys Service, by Cap' Humphreys of the Leopard. — 
As it is probable the American remonstrance by M r Monro the 
Minister in London, inay represent these men as impressed 
into His Majestys Service, I inclose you a copy of Captain 
Crafts letters to M r Gallatin and to me on this Subject, which 
state the reverse to have been the case. It is probable M r 
Monro is not furnished with this information as Captain 
Crafts told me, when he delivered the letter to M r Gallatin and 
he had read it, M 1 Gallatin desired him to keep the facts to 
himself, or not to make them publick. Crafts is now gone up 
the Mediterranean, but told me he was ready at any time to 
verify under oath the letter and what Mr. Gallatin said to him. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 269 

TO SIR ROBERT LAURIE. 1 

New York 5 Sep tr 1807. 
Sir. 

I have received your letter of the 25th of August by Captain 
Bradshaw of His Majesty s Sloop Columbine, informing me 
that the Honorable Vice Admiral Berkeley Commander in 
Chief upon this Station, having understood that many British 
Seamen had expressed their wishes to join the Standard of 
their Sovereign and that several men had applied to me for 
that purpose, he had directed you to send His Majestys Sloop 
of War Columbine to anchor at Sandy Hook for the purpose 
of receiving any men that may offer ; that Captain Bradshaw 
was to acquaint me of his arrival and to remain on that ser- 
vice, as long as he shall think it uecessary after consulting with 
me. — That as the Columbine was in want of water and pro- 
visions you had desired her Commander to demand through 
me such supplies as he may stand in need of, and as the Pres- 
idents Proclamation does not seclude Ships of War carrying 
dispatches, from every privilege of neutrality, you had no doubt 
I would forward them without delay. 

I did not receive Captain Bradshaws letter of the 2d Instant 
until late last Evening owing to the Pilots refusing to bring it 
up ; my son M r Henry Barclay therefore went down for it. — 
Admiral Berkeley I suspect has been misinformed respecting 
British Seamen and Landmen in this Port wishing to return 
to the Service of their King as a few instances have occurred 
in which the applicants have been sent on to Halifax or Eng- 
land, as they wished, in the Pacquets. I really cannot think 
it an object for the Columbine to remain at Sandy Hook for 
the purpose she has been sent for, and I shall so express my- 
self to Captain Bradshaw. There is generally a Packet in this 
Port, which can always receive ten times the number of men 
who will offer. 

1 Sir Robert Laurie was captain of ship Ville de Milan, captured in the 

H. M. S. Milan, and senior officer of West Indies. An account of her 

the British ships in the Chesapeake, capture is given in Basil Hall's Frag- 

The Milan was formerly the French ments of Voyages, etc. 



270 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

Monday 7 th Sep* 
I had proceeded thus far in my letter to you on Saturday 
and was going to add that the Collector of this Port had in a 
very handsome manner consented to my sending down to the 
Columbine the provisions of which Cap' Bradshaw represented 
he was in need, when I received a note from the Collector in- 
forming me that he was under the painful necessity of retract- 
ing his permission and that he was compelled to require Cap- 
tain Bradshaw immediately to depart from Sandy Hook. 

It appears that a Revenue Cutter lay at no great distance 
from the Columbine, that a man deserted from the latter who 
Captain Bradshaw supposed had gone on board this Cutter, 
that a Boat with an officer from the Columbine was sent to the 
Cutter to enquire about this man. That the officer was told 
he was not on board, but that he was not satisfied with this 
assurance, but declared he would search the Cutter. That the 
Revenue officer who commanded the Cutter remonstrated 
against the measure and forbid ^notwithstanding which the 
search was made, but the Deserter was not found. This is the 
substance of the Report of the Revenue officer to the Col- 
lector, who considers it an act of violence committed on an 
American national vessel within the Jurisdiction of the United 
States, which justifies and renders it his duty to order the im- 
mediate departure of the Columbine. I hope this report of 
the Revenue officer may be exaggerated — I have not yet 
heard whether Capt Bradshaw has gone to Sea — On Satur- 
day I made him acquainted with the above report, and I hope 
this day to hear from him. 1 

TO GENERAL SIR JAMES CRAIG, GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF 

CANADA. 

New York, 22" Nov' 1807 
Sir. 

I some time since informed M r Dunn then administering the 
Government of Lower Canada, that a M r Cazeaux late French 

1 An account of this affair, taken from the newspapers of the day, will be 
found in McMaster's History of the U. S., Vol. Ill, pj). 267, 208. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 271 

Consul at Portsmouth New Hampshire had arrived from 
France charged by the French Government to visit Canada 
for the purpose of alienating the affections of the Canadians 
from His Majesty and the Government and other traitorous 
purposes — I beg leave to refer you to the letter to M' Dunn 
for the particulars — 

I have lately heard that Cazeaux will not return to France 
this Winter but remain in Canada in disguise — His abilities 
are equal to his cunning, and as he speaks English remarkably 
well it will be difficult to discover him. He will probably as- 
sume the dress of a Peasant. It is of the utmost consequence 
lie should be apprehended. The plan must be well laid to dis- 
cover him, as the Canadians will naturally incline to conceal 
him — 

TO THE GOVERNOR OF BARBADOES. 

New York 28 th Deer 1807 
Sir 

I have the honor to inclose you a News Paper of this day, 
containing an Act of Congress passed the 22 d Current laying 
au Embargo on all Vessels withiu the Ports of the United 
States, with a provisional clause in favor of Foreign merchant 
vessels, and another in favor of Foreign Ships of War. 

I am requested by M" Erskine His Majestys Minister Pleni- 
potentiary to these States, to inform you that the American 
Government have declared that the Embargo is not intended 
as a measure of Hostility against Great Britain, but only of 
Precaution against the Risk of Capture by the Belligerents 
Powers in the present extraordinary State of things. 1 

TO VICE-ADMIEAL BERKELEY. 

New York 26 l " December 1807. 
Sir. 

I have the Honor to inclose to you the act of Congress 
passed a few days since laying an Embargo, and to inform 

1 Similar letters were sent to the Governors of Jamaica, the Bahamas, 
Bermuda, and Nova Scotia. 



272 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

you that the act of congress prohibiting the importation of 
the greater part of the merchandize usually imported from His 
Majestys United Kingdom, went into operation on the 14 th In- 
stant — It is certain that these measures have been adopted in 
consequence of the present unpleasant position of affairs be- 
tween Great Britain and America ; but I suspect the Embargo 
has taken place rather from the present relative situation of 
France and America. By the National Schooner Revenge 
dispatches were received from the American Minister at Paris, 
the precise purport of which has not yet transpired, but it is 
stated that Bonaparte has declared there shall be no neutrals, 
and that these States must take part with G. Britain or France 
— Congress have sat since the 19 tb Instant, the day the Presi- 
dent sent them a communication on the subject of the resolution 
of Bonaparte, with closed doors. The Embargo was the result 
of their deliberation, during which letters from Washington 
state, the disputes with G Britain was never mentioned — 
The presumption is therefore that the Embargo was ordered 
to prevent Am" Ships going to France — A letter however 
from a sensible, respectable member in Congress, opposed to 
French measures, 1 dated the 19 tb of December, says that not- 
withstanding matters can be amicably adjusted between G 
Britain and America, he fears through french influence a War 
between them will take place, to avoid a War with France — 
M r Rose has not yet arrived, and I begin to fear some accident 
has occurred to the Statira. 2 



TO SIE ROBERT LAURIE. 

New York Dec r 29 th 1807. 
Sir. 

His Majesty's Schooner Chubb under the command of Lieut : 
Crooke arrived last night at the quarrantine ground about 
nine miles from this City, and Lieut Crooke came up in the 

1 Barent Gardenier (?). 

2 George Henry Rose, the special envoy sent over to treat of the Chesapeake 

affair, arrived at Norfolk the same day this letter was written. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 273 

Pilot boat the Collector however hearing of his Landing im- 
mediately ordered the Pilot to take him again on hoard the 
Chubb, as his landing was in the face of the presidents procla- 
mation, so that I have not seen M r Crooke. 

The Collector however immediately sent me your and Grov- 
vernor Hodgsons dispatches, with a polite message that a boat 
was always ready from the customs for me to communicate 
with the Commander of the Chubb. I shall send the dis- 
patches on board the Chubb at high water tomorrow and re- 
quest Lieut Crooke to sail the first wind, at present the wind 
is at S. E. and every appearance of a gale. 



TO ME. EESKINE. 

New York 3 d Feb ry 1808. 
Sir. 

By yesterday's mail I had the Honor to receive your letter 
of the 28 th of January covering a Statement respecting circum- 
stances which have occurred on board His Majestys Ship Sta- 
tira near Norfolk and which has been much misrepresented in 
the American News Papers. — This statement will be published 
in the Evening Post this day, and in the New York Gazette 
tomorrow, with a few remarks. 1 

1 The Norfolk Herald of January The answer published by the New- 

12th stated that a boat had gone York papers stated that when the 

alongside the Statira with provi- boat canio alongside a seaman was 

sions; that they were "saluted with being flogged "for having falsely 

the groans of prisoners who appeared accused his officers"; that he did 

to be suffering the most excruciating claim to be an American, but had 

torture"; that the passengers on given no proof of it; that ho had 

the boat wished to proceed, but were volunteered at Portsmouth in Eng- 

" treated in the most brutal manner"; land and received the bounty as 

that "the groans were those of an such; that during the punishment 

American citizen writhing under the the boat was requested to keep off 

lash of a petty tyrant, and their crime a few minutes; that a "verbal al- 

having declared they wore American tercation" ensued; but that the 

citizens and having sentdetters on boat's crew carried their point, al- 

shore by the pilot." The Baltimore though they " wished some inconve- 

Whig republished this under the nience to the Frigate.") 
heading, "Peace is now Disgrace." 

18 



271 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 



TO CAPT. BROMLEY, H. M. S. STATIRA. 

New York 15 Feb y 1808. 

Sir: 

I am this day honored with your letter of the 1 st Current on 
the Subject of British Seamen who may apply to me for pas- 
sages to their native country in consequence of His Majestys 
late Proclamation or otherwise, with your request that I would 
forward such Seamen to His Majestys Ship Statira under your 
command, where you will receive them for His Majestys ser- 
vice for a passage to England on the return of the Statira with 
the British Mission — 

Since the passing of the Act of Congress in December last 
laying an embargo on American Vessels, British Seamen to 
the number of about forty have applied for passages to Great 
Britain or other parts of His Majestys dominions, some of 
whom have been sent in Packets to Falmouth, others to Hali- 
fax in Nova Scotia, and two to Rear Admiral Sir Alx r Coch- 
rane at Barbadoes. I have also made it known at all the 
houses where British Seamen resort, that I was ready to fur- 
nish them with passages to His Majestys Dominions on their 
application ; I am sorry to add that no others have availed 
themselves of His Majestys Proclamation. 

If any British Seamen hereafter apply, and a con veyauce offers 
for the Chesapeak, I shall assuredly send them to you ; but if 
there should be no such conveyance, and a vessel ready for Hali- 
fax, I shall feel it my duty to send them thither. — Had the Sta- 
tira arrived here instead of the Chesapeak, I have no doubt, two 
or three hundred able British Seamen would have entered on 
board her for His Majestys Service, and even at this late day, 
was your station removed to this City, I feel confident, provided 
the embargo continues, you would more than complete your 
complement. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 180 7-1812 275 

TO GENERAL SIR JAMES CRAIG. 

New York 4 lh April 1808. 
Sir. 

I have received your letters of the G th and 12 th of March the 
former per Post, the latter by John Wyatt on his return to 
this City. I have also received from M r M'Kenzie of the 
Northwest Company one hundred dollars advanced to defray 
Porteous' expenses in going- to you ; and a draft from M r 
Richardson on Mess 1 " 8 M* Vicker and Co ; which was paid, for the 
hundred dollars given to Wyatt on account of his expenses 
in going with dispatches for you. — I am happy to learn you 
are possessed of sufficient information to counteract the Designs 
of those Persons respecting whom I have given you notice. 

M r Rose His Majestys Special Envoy to these States, sailed 
in the Statira Frigate on the 27 th ulto. from Hampton Roads 
for England his inission to these States having failed of its 
friendly object. Within the last Fortnight however a great 
change it is said has taken place in the disposition of Congress 
and the American Government, and that there is every reason 
to believe we shall continue on Terms of Amity. In proof 
of this, the President has stated in conversation that the 
dispatches lately received from M r Pinckney the American 
Minister in Loudon were expressive of the most conciliatory 
disposition on the part of His Majesty; and the Presidents 
laying before Congress the official documents received from 
France, so long with held and wrapped in secrecy. — The 
present state of suspense cannot long continue; nor will the 
Americans remain much longer silent under the inconvenience 
and ruinous consequences of the Embargo. 



TO MR, ERSKINE. 

New York 9 th April 1808. 
Sir: 

I have the Honor to inclose to yon a copy of my letter to 
Commodore Rodgers Commanding the American Ships of 
War in this Port, requesting him to discharge from the 



276 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

American Ship of War Wasp a subject of His Majestys 
named James Grady. Also Commodore Rodgers answer to 
me, wherein he recommends my applying to the Secretary of 
the American Navy on the subject ; and impliedly contradicts 
my assertion that Grady is a Subject of His Majesty. 

Grady avers that he was born in Ireland, and was a Gard- 
ner several years with Lady Connolly, daughter of the late 
Duke of Richmond. In addition to which the Irish dialect is 
so broad on his Tongue, that every person who hears him 
speak, would at once pronounce him an Irishman. — I am 
therefore positive that I was correct in saying he was a sub- 
ject of His Majesty ; nor can I imagine Commodore Rodgers 
can have any Ground for denying it, unless he sets up the 
plea of Grady being a Citizen of these States or having taken 
the Oath of allegiance. Grady assures me he has not been 
made a citizen or taken the Oath of allegiance. He is anxious 
for his discharge and desirous to enter into His Majestys Ser- 
vice. I hope you will feel yourself at Liberty to make an ap- 
plication for him. — It is time to ascertain whether the Am" 
Government intend retaining in their Service British Subjects. 



TO GENERAL HISLOP, GOVERNOR OF TRINIDAD. 

New York 5 tb May 1808. 
Sir. 

I am this moment honored with your Bxcel ys letter of the 
29 th of March covering your Proclamation respecting the loss 
of a great number of Houses and other Buildings at the Port 
of Spain, the distress of the Inhabitants, and inviting all 
friendly neutrals to export to that place Provisions and Lum- 
ber and that they shall be permitted to carry away in return 
Sugar, Rum, Molasses, Cocoa and Coffee. — 

I most sincerely participate with you and the Sufferers in 
the losses they have sustained and the inconveniences they 
must experience; and it adds much to my mortification that 
i cannol officially make public your proclamation, in conse- 
quence of the continuance of the Embargo Law — I will how- 
ever if possible get it a place in some of the News Papers ed- 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 277 

ited in this City. — M r Erskine His Majestys Minister at Wash- 
ington I fear will not succeed in obtaining any indulgence 
from the Am" Government, for two reasons, first because I 
suspect they are not inclined to grant them to His Majestys 
Subjects, and secondly if they do, they cannot refuse similar 
applications from the French and Spanish Governments. At 
this moment there are two officers at Washington deputed by 
the Governor of the City of S tp Domingo requesting permission 
to export flour from these States to that place to prevent the 
Inhabitants from perishing. — There is at present not the least 
probability of the Embargo being taken off. 



TO REAR-ADMIRAL COCHRANE. 

New York 2" May 1808 
Sir. 

A french built Ship formerly sailing out of this Port under 
an American Sea letter under the name of the Eliza, has dur- 
ing this Winter been cut down in Prance and everyway fitted 
for a Privateer, she arrived here some weeks since with a Cargo 
of Brandy and has cleared out for the Isle of France under the 
name of the Constant, Vauvage Master. This is not the fact. 
Vauvage is the owner of this Ship and on board of her : but an 
American of the name of Waterman is the real Captain. She 
is not bound for the Isle of France but the West Indies, or 
that part of the Continent which comprehends Surinam, Dem- 
arara and Berbice. She has three or four Guns mounted, but 
the remainder to equip her to 18 Guns are in her hold, the 
weight or length of which I have not been able to ascertain. 
She sails uncommonly fast, and will probably make many 
Captures unless taken. — Waterman and such others of her 
Crew as are Americans will merit particular care and treat- 
ment being found on board an Enemy's Ship of War. — She 
may assume the name of the Eliza, Waterman Master and 
show an American Sea letter ; or that of the Constant, Vau- 
vage Master with some other Custom House document — It 
will be proper for you to forward this to the Commander in 
Chief of the Jamaica Station. 



278 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

TO ADMIRAL SIR, JOHN BORLASE WARREN. 1 

New York 19 th July 1808 
Sir. 

The day before yesterday it was announced in the News 
Papers of this City and mentioned in private letters that a 
French National Brig of 20 Guns had arrived in the Chese- 
peak from Brest with dispatches from the French Govern- 
ment. By letters received from Baltimore & Alexandria by 
this days mail it appears that a French National Brig of 20 
Guns and 150 men had arrived in the Chesepeak (not from 
Brest but) from Guadeloupe. It is generally supposed her ob- 
ject is to obtain provisions. — 

I am aware that under present circumstances it is not His 
Majestys Wish that the Squadron under your command should 
give even a shadow of offence to this Government ; still with 
submission to your better Judgment, I should suppose some 
of the Frigates and Sloops under your command might be off 
and on these Ports, and occasionally capture Enemies Ships. 
The French are apprised that British Ships of War seldom 
cruise off the Am" Ports and avail themselves of their ab- 
sence. — I have advised Sir Alexander Cochrane of the Brig 
being here and that she will probably return in a month or six 
Weeks to Guadeloupe or Martinico. Should a conveyance of- 
fer for Barbadoes or contiguous from Halifax permit me to 
recommend your repeating the information. 



TO MR. ERSKINE. 

New York 1 st August 1808 
Sir, 

I am at this moment honored with your letter of the 29 th of 
July requesting me as His Majestys Com r under the 5 th Arti- 
cle of the Treaty of Amity Commerce and Navigation between 

1 Nephew of Sir Peter Warren, matist, having been British Ainbas- 
Born in 1754, died 1822. Sir John sador to Russia in 1802. 
was not only a sailor, but a diplo- 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 279 

His M : & the United States of America to inform you whether 
Moose Island in Passamaquoddy Bay is within His Majestys 
Limits or those of the United States. 

For the more ready comprehending the conduct of the 
Com" with respect to the Islands in that Bay permit me to 
give you two extracts, the first from the second Article of the 
definitive Treaty of Peace between His Majesty and the United 
States, the other from the fifth Article of the Treaty of Amity 
Commerce and Navigation above mentioned. — In describing 
the boundaries which are to divide His Majestys (then) Prov- 
ince of Nova Scotia from the United States, the definitive 
Treaty declares — " East by a Line to be drawn along the mid- 
dle of the River S l Croix from its mouth in the Bay of Fundy 
to its source." The same Article grants all Islands within 
twenty Leagues of any part of the Shores of the United States 
and lying between lines to be drawn due East from the Points 
where the aforesaid Boundaries between Nova Scotia on the 
one part, and East Florida on the other shall respectively 
touch the Bay of Fundy and the Atlantic Ocean, " excepting 
such Islands as now are, or heretofore have been 'within the 
Limits of the said Province of Nova Scotia. 1 '' The treaty of 
Amity Commerce and Navigation directs that the three Com- 
missioners appointed under the 5 th Article of that Treaty, 
" shall by a declaration under their hands and Seals decide 
what River is the River intended by the " (definitive) " Treaty," 
and " that the said declaration shall contain a description of 
the said River, and shall particularize the Latitude and Lon- 
gitude of its mouth and of its Source." 

You will perceive from these extracts that the Commission- 
ers under the definitive Treaty in 1783 contemplated and 
described the mouth of the River S* Croix to be in the Bay of 
Fundy — and that the 5 th Article of the Treaty makes mention 
only of its mouth, without reference to the Bay of Fundy, in- 
deed the Bay of Fundy is not mentioned in the Article. — It 
was the wish of the Commissioners under the 5 th Article of the 
Treaty of Amity Commerce and Navigation to have if possi- 
ble carried the mouth of the River S* Croix into the Bay of 
Fundy ; but on a fair examination of the River S* Croix we 



280 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

were of opiniou that the mouth of the River S e Croix was at a 
place called Joe's Point nearly opposite to the Town of S* An- 
drews in the Westernmost Part of the Bay of Passamaquoddy, 
and left the Boundary from thence to the Bay of Fundy to be 
arranged by His Majesty and the United States of America at 
some future Period. The Commissioners however agreed that 
they would recommend to their respective Governments that 
the Centre of the Main Channel which leads from Joe's Point 
into the Bay of Fundy should be the dividing Line. This Line 
has never been confirmed, if it had Moose Island would have 
been on the American Side of it, but this would not have af- 
fected His Majesty s Right to that Island, because by the excep- 
tion in the second Article of the definitive Treaty such Islands 
as then were or theretofore had been within the limits of the 
Province of Nova Scotia were not to appertain to the United 
States. — M r Chipman His Majestys Agent was prepared to 
show on the part of His Majesty that Moose Island then was 
and had been within the Limits of the Province of Nova Sco- 
tia; but the Commissioners refused to hear him, having no 
power or direction to decide with respect to those Islands. — 
M r Chipman is His Majestys Solicitor General at S* John in 
the Province of New Brunswick, and will readily furnish the 
Admiral and General with copies of the documents he had pre- 
pared to lay before the Coin 1 " 9 had they conceived themselves 
authorized to receive them — 

As it may at a future day be urged on the part of the United 
States of America that His Majesty in the year 1802 or 1803 
had agreed to yield Moose Island to these States, permit rne to 
add, what I by no means hold to be material, but to avoid a 
charge of suppression. That when I was in London in 1802 
and 1803, Lord Hawkesbury then Secretary of State for for- 
eign affairs informed me that M r King the American Minister 
in London, had in conversing on the Subject of the Islands in 
the Bay of Fundy and on the establishing a boundary Line 
from the mouth of the River S l Croix (Joes Point) to the Bay 
of Fundy, mentioned that several of those Islands appertained 
to the United States of America. — In reply I told his Lordship 
I considered the reverse the fact and that every Island in Pas- 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 281 

samaquoddy Bay had appertained to the Province of Nova 
Scotia; I however added that if a full and compleat settle- 
ment of Boundaries took place between His Majesty and the 
United States of America, which was then under his Lord- 
ships and M r Kings consideration, that it was my opinion 
Moose Island should be granted ex gratis by His Majesty to 
the United States of America, as they had possessed it since 
1783 and used it as a Port of Entry. — His Lordship directed 
me to confer with M r King on the Subject. M r King and my- 
self met twice or three times, and he finally agreed to accept 
Moose Island in full of all claims for Islands in the Bay of 
Passamacpioddy, as an eventual arrangement of the Boun- 
dary Lines 1 — Soon after this I understood M r King received 
instructions from his Government not to proceed any further 
in the proposed Commission for running the remainder of the 
unascertained Lines between His Majesty and these States. — 



TO ADMIRAL SIR JOHN BORLASE WARREN. 

New York 3 d Sept r 1808. 
Sir. 

I have the Honor to acknowledge the receipt of your three 
several letters to ine of the 28 th of July. — I regret that the five 
Seamen I sent to the officer Commanding His Majestys Ships 
of War at Passamaquoddy, have not been delivered. At the 
time I put them on board there was no conveyance for Hali- 
fax. The masters of Merchant Vessels cannot be confided in : 
and the Captains of Packets, in consecnience of the number of 
Passengers they carry to Falmouth, since the Embargo, are 
averse to be troubled with Seamen, intended for the Navy. — 
Captain Davis of the Manchester on his arrival told me he 
would take fifty Seamen for you, if I had them; prior how- 
ever to his departure he complained of his Ship being much 
crowded and eventually received very few. — The next (the 
October Packet) will be the last which touches at Halifax 
from hence until March next, after her there will be no con- 

1 See ante, page 146. 



282 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

veyance for Seamen. Perhaps it would not be amiss for you 
to send a small armed vessel occasionally between the middle 
of October and March to take such men as may wish to return 
to His Majestys Dominions. The ostensible reason for the ar- 
rival of an armed Ship from you. must be dispatches, and the 
Officer Commanding on his arrival at Sandy Hook or Staten 
Island is directed by Law to report his arrival and the cause 
(towit that he is charged with dispatches) to the Collector of 
the Customs, who will then if requested grant him Pro- 
visions, &c. 



TO ADMIRAL SIR JOHN BORLASE WARREN. 

New York 3" Sept r 1808. 

(Private.) 
Dear Sir: 

The incidents which have occurred in Europe, and in the 
Spanish Colonies in North and South America, are events of 
such general importance and so peculiarly fortunate for Great 
Britain that I cannot refrain offering you my sincere congrat- 
ulations. — I cannot say I am very sanguine in my expectations 
of the consequences of the revolutions in Spain and Portugal, 
unless they are supported by what we have had hints to ex- 
pect, a revolution in Italy, and a cooperation of the Northern 
Powers. Should these take place, and unanimity, decision 
and energy actuate the allies, the Tyrant must fall. — At all 
events if the Spaniards and Portugese act with prudence and 
promptness, and carry on merely a defensive and desultory 
war, avoiding at least for two years any thing like a general 
action, there is work cut out to occupy Bonaparte the remain- 
der of his Life — Where ever the French main Body appears 
only Women children and old men should be found. The 
elite of the Spanish and Portugese Troops, of which the 
greater part ought to be cavalry, should hang on the rear and 
flanks of the Enemy, oppose them in front at every strong 
pass, harass them night and day by partial and occasionally 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 283 

more extensive attacks, and cut up all their foraging parties 
and escorts. Suck a mode would make Soldiers of them, while 
it rendered the French discontented from constant duty and 
scanty supplies. You will perhaps smile and remark that it is 
easier to prescribe the mode, than to carry it into effect. I 
grant it, but beg leave to add that Troops in their own coun- 
try, having every man their Friend have incredible advantages 
over an Enemy who is ignorant of the country, and of local 
information. — The immediate consequences of these revolu- 
tions are singular fortunate to Great Britain during the oper- 
ation of the American non importation and embargo Laws. 
The Spanish Colonies in the West Indies and on the Continent 
of America will now take from our manufacturers all that 
their Industry can supply ; and I am at times in doubt whether 
a continuance of the American Embargo will not operate bene- 
ficially to Britain. — Whether the occurrences in Europe have 
had any effect on M r Jefferson and his Ministers has not yet 
transpired. I have no hesitation to say, but for these events, 
they would have gone to War with us, and united themselves 
more closely with France. — For this purpose they have pur- 
sued every measure which could give offence to His Majesty 
and His Ministers in the hopes of inducing them to some act 
which would be generally offensive to the Americans and give 
colour to a War. — A large proportion of the Americans per- 
haps a major part are averse to War with Britain. If there- 
fore Britain could have been so goaded as to commit the first 
aggression, the American Government believed many if not 
most of those who were opposed to a War, would become ad- 
vocates for it. — It was under this conviction that I some time 
since took the Liberty to give you my opinion, with respect to 
Moose Island in Passamaquoddy Bay, possessed by the Ameri- 
cans, but appertaining to His Majesty ; and to recommend the 
avoiding all acts of violence to gain the possession, indeed not 
even to make a demand at present, for it. — My reasons were 
given at length and shall not now be repeated — Vermont 
Massachusetts and Connecticut are decidedly favorable to 
Britain in opposition to France. In this State and in Jersey 
and Pennsylvania they are nearly divided, and in consequence 



284 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

of the Embargo the federal party are daily gaining strength 
throughout the Union. — Petitions or rather Memorials are 
sending from the Eastern and Northern States to the Presi- 
dent for a repeal of the Embargo, and should it not be raised 
in November or December, I should not be surprised if vio- 
lence was opposed to Law. Orders have been issued by the 
President for building two large Armed Brigs and some gun 
boats on the Lakes ; and large depots of small arms, ordnance 
and military Stores have been lately established as I am in- 
formed in those parts of this State which are contiguous to 
Canada. — These are strongly indicative measures. — Daily ex- 
perience adds moreover to past conviction that admitting we 
are to be at War with America it is of immense moment, we 
should avoid giving the American Government a pretext for 
it ; because should they wantonly unite with France against 
His Majesty, we will have three of the most powerful States 
with respect to men, and great numbers also in the other 
States, our Friends so as to impede, if not frustrate all offen- 
sive operations; and possibly to occasion a civil war among 
themselves. The jealousy of the Eastern & Northern States 
of the influence in Council and preponderance in Congress of 
Virginia is great, and they live under them with an impa- 
tience, bordering on a determination to shake them off. 

You will perceive in the News Papers, that the French offi- 
cial dispatches to the Governors of the Spanish Colonies in 
America of the resignation of the crown of Spain in favor of 
Bonaparte, were forwarded by the American Consul under 
cover to M r Madison Secretary of State. They have happily 
been intercepted ; but M r Madison owes it to his own reputa- 
tion, and to these States as a power at present in Amity with 
Britain to disavow all knowledge of the act, and that no part 
of his conduct had or could have given the American Consul 
in Spain reason to believe he would have approved of receiv- 
ing such dispatches to forward — The day I hope will arrive 
when His Majesty may notice this act of perfidy with pru- 
dence and demand a satisfactory explanation and apology. 

The period I trust is not distant when we shall be on more 
friendly terms with America, in which case you may with pro- 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 285 

priety visit this place, which you will find wonderfully ex- 
tended and improved, most of the lands which belonged at 
Greenwich to the Heirs of the late Sir Peter Warren are now 
included in this City. — Your Cousin Lady Southampton is 
also a first Cousin to M rs Barclays ; who was a Delancey, niece 
to and named after the late Lady Warren. 1 — I think Lady 
Warren, & yourself, would be pleased by a summer excursion 
hither. I shall only add we should be most happy to see you. 



FROM JUDGE BENSON. 

My dear Sir, 

I have reflected on what passed in the confidential Conver- 
sation between Us a few days since ; and am perfectly satisfied 
the British Government can never justify taking Possession 
of Moose Island on the ground either of better Title, as it re- 
gards Boundary, or as not within the Boundary of any of the 
Grants under which the Territory there has been claimed and 
so, as it were, vacant ; for in the latter Case the American 
Government would be intitled to it by Right of prior Occupancy, 
the Fact I presume being, that from the Beginning, and cer- 
tainly since the Decision by the Commissioners in 1798, actual 
Jurisdiction has been exercised over the Island as appertain- 
ing to Massachusetts — 

The Treaty of 1783, and the subsequent one of 1794, both 
assume it, that the River St. Croix was the Boundary of Massa- 
chusetts, and as snch the eastern Boundary of the United States, 
and the only Question which discovered itself after the first 
Treaty was which is the true River ? This Question was sub- 
mitted to Commissioners who between the [Schoodic] claimed 
on part of the King of G. B. and [Magaguadavic] claimed on 
the part of the U. S. decided in favor of the former. The 
Treaties also suppose, that whichever might be the true River, 
it emptied immediately into the Bay of Fundy or Sea in that 
Quarter, whereas both the Rivers claimed empty into the Bay 

1 Lady Southampton was a daughter of Sir Peter Warren, whose wife was 
Susan Do Laneey, daughter of the first Stephen De Lancey. 



286 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

of Passamaquoddy, a Bay, if it may be so expressed, of the 
Bay of Fundy ; and it being only submitted to the Commis- 
sioners to ascertain the true River, and with it it's Head or 
Source and it's Mouth or Confluence with other waters, and 
they having ascertained the latter to be at [Joe's Point] there 
would seem to be a Defect in the Boundary of Massachusetts 
as to the Space or Distance between the Mouth of the River 
and the Bay of Fundy, and the Parties being independent 
Sovereignties and therefore not amenable to any common Tri- 
bunal the Doubt or Question arising from it was necessarily 
left as the Subject of further Convention — I speak of it as a 
seeming Defect only being perswaded the Law would construc- 
tively supply it by declaring the Filum Aquae the middle of 
the Channel of the nearest Passage fit for the ordinary Navi- 
gation between the Mouth of the River and the Bay of Fundy 
to be the Boundary — The Necessity of this Construction will 
be more obviously discerned if we suppose the [Magaguadavic] 
to have been decided to be the River, the Mouth of it being just 
within the northern Headland of the Bay of Passamaquoddy ; 
so that without some such closing Line as I have suggested 
this most incongruous Consequence would follow, that the 
Nation, having the main Land forming the shores of the Bay 
of Passamaquoddy in nearly the whole of its Circumference, 
would still be without a Right to any of the Islands in it, or 
even to the Use of it's Waters — 

You may communicate this Letter as you may think proper 
trusting that my Motives to it will not be misconceived, 
Yours sincerely 

Egb t Benson. 

Oct r 26, 1808. 



TO ME. ERSKINE. 

New York 28 th October 1808. 

(Private.) 
Sir. 

The late confidential communications respecting Moose Is- 
land, which you have been pleased to transmit to me, and the 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 287 

refusal of the American Government to deliver that Island to 
His Majesty, have led me to reconsider the Subject and I feel 
it my duty to inform you of the result. 

I fear I have heretofore been led into an error by giving 
the Treaty of 1783 between His Majesty and the United States 
of America too confined a construction. — On mature delibera- 
tion I am inclined to believe it was the intention of His Maj- 
esty and the Government of the United States of America in 
1783 that the Eastern Boundary of the then Province of Mas- 
sachusetts, should be the Line to divide His Majestys Colony 
of Nova Scotia from the Territory he was about to cede to the 
United States of America ; aud as the River S* Croix had 
originally been the Eastern Boundary which divided Massa- 
chusetts from Nova Scotia it was agreed by the Treaty that 
"a line drawn along the middle of the River S* Croix from its 
mouth in the Bay of Puudy to its Source, and from its 
Source directly North to the aforesaid Highlands which 
divide the Rivers that fall into the Atlantic Ocean from 
those which fall into the River S e Lawrence " should be the 
Eastern Boundary. — 

Then follow the words under which His Majestys present 
claim to Moose Island is founded towit " comprehending all 
Islands within twenty leagues of the Shores of the United 
States, and lying between Lines to be drawn due East from 
the Points where the aforesaid Boundaries between Nova 
Scotia on the one part and East Florida on the other shall 
respectively touch the Bay of Pundy and the Atlantic Ocean, 
excepting such Islands as now are or heretofore have been 
within the Limits of the said Province of Nova Scotia." 

It appears to me that His Majesty cannot justify taking pos- , 
session of Moose Island. 

[Here Colonel Barclay repeats the arguments used in the fore- 
going letter from Judge Benson.] 

It is also evident that the Treaty of 1783 which gave to the 
United States " all Islands within twenty leagues of the Shores of 
the United States except those which then were or theretofore 
had been within the Limits of the Province of Nova Scotia," 
intended only Islands laying in the Bay of Fundy and in the 



288 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

Ocean ; because it expressly defines them to be, " lying be- 
tween Lines to be drawn due East from the points where the 
aforesaid Boundaries between Nova Scotia on the one part 
and East Florida on the other shall respectively touch the 
Bay of Pundy and the Atlantic Ocean." — Now a Line drawn 
due East, from the middle of the River S e Croix, supposing its 
mouth to be in the Bay of Fundy, would run in an opposite 
direction from a Line, which is to include Moose Island. 

I have in a former letter to you observed that I did not 
think Moose Island worth five hundred Guineas to an Individ- 
ual. I consider it of tio consequence to His Majesty for For- 
tifications. Campo Bello an adjacent and much larger Island 
is better adapted either for defense or annoyance. — 



TO MR. ERSKINE. 

New York 23 December 1808 
Sir. 

Finch the Courier who left this on the 12 th of November 
with your dispatch for General Sir James Craig returned last 
Evening with the letter I have now the Honor to inclose — Major 
Thornton Military Secretary to the General has not informed 
me of the day he arrived ; by the date of his letter to me, it 
must have been on or before the 28 th of November, so that the 
Courier was not more than 16 days in going, which was very 
expeditious particularly as Lake Champlain was impassable — 

The small letter you sent me on the 11 th Instant to forward 
and which came too late for the second Courier, was put under 
a cover and despatched on the 20 th Instant by a very reputable 
character who will be punctual in the Delivery of it — 



TO MR. ERSKINE. 

New York, 9 ,b March 1809 
Sir. 

I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of the instruc- 
tions of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States to 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 289 

the Collectors of the different Ports for their rule of conduct 
under the Non intercourse Act. 1 — 

These instructions appear to me to comport neither with the 
letter or spirit of that Act ; and pregnant with serious incon- 
venience and probable loss to His Majestys Subjects. Should 
they appear in the same light to you, I take it for granted you 
will endeavor to obtain a reasonable alteration. I take the 
liberty to inclose my private remarks on the instructions. 

Permit me to notice that it will be necessary to obtain from 
the Secretary of the Treasury an additional instruction to the 
Commanders of the American Ships of War, and Gun Boats, 
and to the Collectors of the Customs to enjoin the Pilots and 
Masters of Revenue Cutters to give notice to the Masters of all 
foreign Ships and Vessels attempting to enter the harbours 
and Waters of the United States of the forfeiture they will in- 
cur under the Non intercourse act by entering the Harbours 
and Waters of these States. Such a notice to persons ignorant 
of the act is reasonable, and may eventually save the unpleas- 
ant circumstance of remonstrance for want of due notice — 



TO DOCTOR CROKE/ 

April (?) 1809 
Sir. 

By the Brig General Prevost, Tupper Master, I did myself 
the Honor to inclose to you a copy of the Non intercourse Act 
passed in the late Session of Congress ; together with an ab- 
stract of M 1 ' Gallatin the Secretary of the Treasury of the 
United States, his circular letter of instructions to the Col- 
lectors of the Customs, explanatory of the Act and directing 
the manner in which they were to conform their conduct un- 
der it. — I informed you at the same time, that I had stated to 
His Majestys Minister at Washington, the objections to the in- 
structions contained in the circular letter before mentioned ; 
and took the liberty to recommend to him in the Event of his 
concurring in opinion with me, a remonstrance on the part of 

i The act of March 1, 1809. 
2 Dr. Croke at this time was Acting Governor of Nova Scotia. 

19 



290 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

His Majesty.— I am happy to inform you that M r Erskine His 
Majestys Minister made such a representation to the Secretary 
of the Treasury, and that he on the reconsideration of his in- 
structions has thought proper to make the alterations sug- 
gested. I inclose you the circular on this subject, whereby 
foreign Vessels are now permitted to clear out until the 20 th 
of May next in ballast, or with the Cargoes they brought 
into Port, provided they have not been landed, for any port 
whatever. 



TO CAPTAIN HAWKES, H. M. S. MELAMPUS. 

New York 31 8t May 1809 
Sir 

I have this moment received your letter of yesterday ac- 
quainting me with your being off Sandy Hook with His maj- 
estys Ships Melampus and Euridice under your Command, in 
cruizing along this coast to endeavor to intercept a French 
Frigate supposed to be in Boston or some other Port in these 
States, and requesting me to furnish you with any intelligence 
of which I may be possessed. 

I have not heard of any French Frigate or other Ship of 
War having arrived for months past or now being in any Port 
within the United States of America nor do I believe there is ; 
nor have I any local or foreign news to communicate. I re- 
gret that my last file of papers were forwarded on Monday to 
R. Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane. — On the 10 tb of June the 
intercourse between Great Britain and these States is to be 
renewed, and His Majestys orders in Council revoked as to 
American Ships. Congress are now sitting, and an act has 
passed the House of Representatives and will probably pass 
the Senate and President opening the Ports to British Ships 
immediately. This act, I have some reason to believe, will 
be on tomorrow or next day. — Should either of the Ships of 
War under your command be in want of supplies, perhaps it 
would be as well to remain off and on a day or two to know 
the fate of this Act, of this however you are the best Judge. — 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 291 

TO MR. HAMMOND. 

New York 16 th Nov' 1809 

(Private.) 
Sir. 

As I am ignorant whether M 1 Jackson His Majestys Minis- 
ter to these States did communicate by the Africaine Frigate 
to His Majestys Secretary of State for the foreign Department 
the unpleasant event detailed in the inclosed letter ; or even 
whether it had occurred prior to the departure of the Afri- 
caine from the Chesepeak, I consider it my duty to send to you 
a copy of a circular Letter received by me this day from M r 
Jackson, which you will have the Goodness to lay before the 
Secretary of the foreign Department, provided he has not been 
advised by M r Jackson on the Subject — 1 



TO MR. JACKSON. 

New York 24" 1 November 1809 
Sir. 

I regret that it is not in my power to return you a satisfac- 
tory answer to the first of your Questions respecting the num- 
ber of Militia men assembled in the States belonging t» my 
district in consequence of the Presidents orders for 100000 
men to hold themselves in readiness. — It appears, from cor- 
rect information, that the American Secretary of War, sent an 
order to the Governor of each State, specifying the number of 
men the State he commanded was to furnish, but that he did 
not communicate to such Governor the Contingent to be fur- 
nished by each of the other States. I can therefore only give 
the number this State furnished, and I inclose you M r Skin- 

1 The "unpleasant event" was the Papers, For. Rel.,Vol. III,p.323. Mr. 

refusal of the United States Govern- Erskine had been recalled upon the 

ment on November 8 to receive fur- disavowal by the British Government 

ther communications from Mr. Jack- of the arrangements made by him, 

son. The circular letter addressed and Francis James Jackson was ap- 

by Mr. Jackson to the British con- pointed his successor. He arrived 

suls is printed in American State in Washington September 8, 1809. 



292 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

ner, the Consul ad interim, during the absence of M r Alton 
who is His Majestys Consul for Massachusetts, New Hamp- 
shire and Vermont, his report of the Quota promised by Mas- 
sachusetts, and the report of M r Gilpin ; Vice Consul for 
Connecticut and Rhode Island. The Governor of Connecticut 
refused to obey the order of the President, no militia therefore 
were embodied under that order in that State. I inclose for 
your information a copy of the return of the Militia of the 
United States ; contained in M r Jeffersons letter to Congress of 
the 25 of March 1808, this return was the Scale on which the 
relative quotas of each state was graduated. You will per- 
ceive by contrasting New York with Massachusetts, that the 
proportions are not arithmetically correct, still perhaps suffi- 
ciently so to take either of them to resolve the probable num- 
ber furnished by Vermont and New Hampshire, the two States 
from which it is impracticable without expense and great 
trouble to obtain returns. — The State of New York furnished 
14339 Militia men under the order of the President.— They 
never were assembled at the same time and place. Each 
county in this State furnished its proportion of the 14339 
Men, under the order of the Governor of this State. They 
were drafted ; and in some Counties, the men were three times 
assembled, in others only once, and in a few of the Counties 
they never were assembled. In the County of New York they 
assembled once : but on legal advice being taken, it was dis- 
covered, their attendance could not be compelled, and the two 
subsequent meetings of the drafted Militia for that City and 
County were very incomplete. — The Drafts were generally of- 
ficered, in some Counties formed into Companies — The Gov- 
ernors order specified the respective divisions which were to 
form each Battalion but these Divisions never united so as in 
reality to form Battalions. They did not receive clothing. 
They were all armed with their own Arms, which were of dif- 
ferent Calibres, and various lengths, some with Bayonets, oth- 
ers without, and not a fourth with Cartouch boxes. The Arms 
generally speaking the reverse of serviceable. — Not any pro- 
ficiency was made in their Military Exercise and Movements. 
The drafted men were exempt from assembling with the Vol- 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 293 

unteer Corps and common Militia on the ordinary days pre- 
scribed by Law ; until they were discharged from the Special 
duty for which they had been drafted. 



TO MR. MORIER. 1 

New York 10 th October 1810 
Sir. 

By the Sandwich Packet I received a letter from M r Hamil- 
ton the Under Secretary of State for foreign Affairs acquainting 
me that he had sent to me in that Packet a Box containing 
several copies of M r Goldsmiths Book upon the secret History 
of the Cabinet of Buonaparte : 2 and that he was directed by 
the Marquis of Wellesley 3 to desire that I would forward a 
dozen copies of it to you, and take your opinion respecting the 
manner in which I should distribute the remainder. 

By this days Mail I forward you one of these copies, and beg 
your directions whether I shall send the remainder in a Box 
by the mail, or by water. — Permit me to request your opinion 
in what manner I shall distribute the rest, so as to render 
their contents generally known in these States. 

1 John Philip Morier, British Sec- ter being brought to the notice of 
retary of Legation, aud Chai'ge d'Af- Parliament on June 24, 1811, the 
faires ad interim. Government expressed great indig- 

2 Lewis Goldsmith was a Portu. nation, and promised to punish the 
guese Jew by descent, an English- author. Their indignation did not, 
man by birth, and a journalist by however, lead them to take any ef- 
profession. He lived many years in fective steps, nor did it prevent 
France, and was the father-in-law their using strenuous efforts to con- 
of Lord Lyndhurst. According to tinue circulating his scurrilous Se- 
his own account, he was on intimate cret History of the Cabinet of Bona- 
terms with Napoleon, who trusted parte. He died in extreme old age 
him with large sums of money and at Paris in 1846. 

employed him as a secret agent in 3 The Marquis of Wellesley, elder 
various dishonorable transactions — brother of the Duke of Wellington, 
among other things in an attempt to was appointed Foreign Secretary on 
kidnap Louis XVIII. In 1809 he December 6, 1809, upon Canning's 
escaped to England, and in 1811 withdrawal from Perceval's admin- 
started a subscription for setting a istration. 
price on Napoleon's head. This mat- 

19* 



294 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

Some delay occurred in getting leave from the Custom 
House to Land the Box, as it was not included in the mails, to 
which cause you are to attribute your not having received the 
copy more early. 

TO MR. HAMILTON. 1 

New York 6 Nov r 1810. 
Sir. 

I beg leave to acquaint you for the information of the Mar- 
quis of Wellesley, that M r Morier having given me his opinion 
that the most eligible mode to distribute the copies of Gold- 
smiths Secret History of the Cabinet of Buonaparte, sent by 
you to me, was to forward some sets to each of His Majestys 
Consuls resident in these States, I have in compliance with his 
directions sent six sets to M r Bond His Majestys Consul Gen- 
eral for the middle and Southern States, an equal Number to 
M r Allen Consul for Massachusetts, New Hampshire and 
Rhode Island, and three sets to each of His Majestys Consuls 
for Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina — The remainder 
after forwarding a dozen copies to M 1 Morier, I have given to 
well disposed Individuals, who have promised me to circulate 
the contents to the utmost of their power — One copy I gave 
to M r Sargeant a Bookseller, who has now in the press 2000 
Copies which will be ready for sale in a few days. 2 

TO THE COMMANDER OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S 
SHIP OF WAR OFF SANDY HOOK. 

BRITISH CONSUL GENERALS OFFICE 

New York 2 d May 1811. 
Sir. 

I have the honor to inclose to you a letter received from the 
Mayor of this City, respecting the impressment yesterday of 

1 William Richard Hamilton, Un- 2 Sergeant's edition is in two voi- 
der Secretary of State for Foreign umes, 18mo, and is accompanied by 
Affairs from October 16, 1809, to "Notes by a Gentleman of New- 
January 22, 1822. York." 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 295 

John Deggins, 1 a native Citizen of the United States of America 
from the American Brig Spitfire, and now on board His Ma- 
jestys Ship under your command off this Port. I also inclose 
three affidavits taken before the Mayor, which fully prove that 
Diggins is a native Citizen of these States, forcibly taken yes- 
terday from the Spitfire and carried on board H: M: Ship un- 
der your command ; and your refusal to restore him to Josiah 
Fichett, his master, who was a passenger on board the Spitfire. 

In addition to the Arguments which the inclosed depositions 
naturally suggest for the discharge of this man, permit me to 
remark, that the impressment of a native American at this 
moment is peculiarly unfortunate as the two Nations are far 
from being on friendly Terms; and one of the points most ob- 
stinately persevered in on the part of these States in their nego- 
tiations with Great Britain, and which at present forms the 
principal objection to a Treaty, is "that the Commanders of 
His Majesty s Ships of War shall not be permitted to impress 
men from American Vessels." Now notwithstanding His Ma- 
jesty can never surrender his right to take His Subjects when 
fouud at Sea on board neutral Ships, still every instance of an 
illegal, unjustifiable impressment tends to weaken this right 
and to furnish an argument for its being given up — 

I flatter myself on a perusal of the inclosed papers, you will 
readily deliver up the young man to the Person, who is the 
Bearer of this letter, and who is authorized by M r Fichett to 
receive him. Allow me to assure you that the good of the 
Service requires that you should at present refrain to make 
impressments on the coasts of these States. 

I am under the awkward necessity of addressing this letter 
to you, simply, as " the Commander of His Majestys Ship of 
War off Sandy Hook," not knowing either your name, or that 
of your Ship. 2 For several days past we have had accounts 
of your being off and on this Port, but not a person has ar- 

1 Deggins, Digo, or Diggio, has Belt on May 16. See further as to 

obtained a certain historical impor- his impressment, page 297, below, 
tance, because it was while seeking 2 The ship was the Guerriere, after- 

to investigate his case that the Presi- ward destroyed in action by the 

dent met and fired upon the Little Constitution. 



296 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

rived who has been able to give the name of the Ship or 
her Commander — 



TO REAR ADMIRAL SIR FRANCIS LAFNEY, LEEWARD 
ISLANDS. 

BRITISH CONSUL GENERALS OFFICE 

New York 11 th May 1811. 
Sir. 

It may not be improper in me to explain to yon my induce- 
ment for occasionally making to the Lords of the Admiralty, 
and to the Commanders in Chief of His Majestys Ships of 
War on foreign Stations applications of the nature I am now 
about to make to you, as in addition to reasons of more con- 
sequence ; I shall acquit myself of the imputation of improper 
interference. — You are not unacquainted, that the American 
Government are loud in their complaints and remonstrances 
that Citizens of these States are frequently impressed and de- 
tained on board His Majestys Ships of "War; and if I am not 
misinformed, one of the principal present difficulties in effect- 
ing a treaty between His Majesty and these States, arises from 
impressments of American Seamen, to prevent which the 
American Government require that no Seamen shall be im- 
pressed from American Ships — A point that can never be 
agreed to on the part of His Majesty. — From these remarks, I 
trust you will agree with me, that if any instances occur in 
which the Commanders of any of His Majestys Ships of War 
have through mistake or otherwise impressed a Native Citizen 
of these States, it is for the benefit of His Majestys Service, 
that the circumstance should remain unreported to the Amer- 
ican Government, and thereby an official representation and 
remonstrance prevented. — Under this conviction I have made 
it a rule to receive private applications, and after making due 
inquiry to transmit either to the Lords of the Admiralty or 
the Commander in Chief of the Squadron wherein such Sea- 
man is, the necessary documents to prove him a native Citizen 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 297 

and to identify his person — Allow me to add that by this 
mode the Parties are less irritated, and generally satisfied with 
what I say to them. 

I am now requested by M r Spook the father of James Spook 
both of whom are native Citizens of these States to intreat 
you will have the goodness to order James Spook to be dis- 
charged from whatever ships he may be in under your com- 
mand — He was originally impressed on board His Majestys 
Brig Frolick, T Whingates Esq r Commander : and I inclose for 
your satisfaction, the Certificate of his Citizenship, the depo- 
sition of the Father, and certain Questions to be put to the 
Youth, with the answers he ought to make, to entitle him to 
his discharge. Certificates of Citizenship, are evidence I place 
little confidence in ; the intention on the part of Congress was 
correct; but the Certificates have been issued to all descrip- 
tions of persons, from the native American to the Irish and 
Scotsman not two months from his native Country. — 



TO REAR-ADMIRAL SAWYER, HALIFAX. 

BRITISH CONSUL GENERALS OFFICE 

New York 20 th May 1811. 
Sir — 

I am under the necessity of calling your attention to the 
two following cases of impressment by Captain Pashell of His 
Majestys Ship Guerriere. On the first of these I wrote to 
Captain Pashell while he was off this Port, and a Pilot Boat 
was despatched to deliver it, the Boat returned without being 
able to meet the Guerriere and the letter is on board the Rev- 
enue Cutter now at Sea for the purpose of delivering it. — On 
the first instant John Digo a native citizen of the United 
States of America, and an apprentice to Josiah Fichet of Port- 
land Ship Carpenter was impressed off this Port from on 
board the American Brig Spitfire of Portland in the Province 
of Main, a new Vessel built by M r Fichet coming to this place 
for sale, by His Majestys Frigate Guerriere. M r Fichet went 
on board the Gueriere claimed the young man, but Captain 



298 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

Pashell refused to deliver him — I have examined M r Fichett 
and the Captain of the Brig as well as several other persons, 
and there is no doubt that Digeo is a Native Citizen of these 
States — He was born at Cape Elizabeth in the Province of 
Main and has a Scar on the back of one of his hands — 

On the fifth of May off Long Island to the N : E of this 
Port, Captain Pashell also impressed another American Sea- 
man from the American Sloop George named Gideon Caprion, 
the documents respecting whom I have the Honor to inclose — 
At the present moment such impressments off the mouths of 
American Ports are peculiarly unfortunate, and what adds to 
the disagreeableness of the circumstances, is that both these 
men belong to Eastern States who are not in the habit of giv- 
ing Certificates of Citizenship to His Majesty s Subjects ; have 
few of their men impressed through mistake, and are therefore 
more sensibly hurt, whenever such accidents occur in addition 
to which the people of the Eastern States are more Friendly 
to the English than all the other States. — Permit me there- 
fore to request you will have the Goodness to order these two 
young men to be discharged, and when discharged to direct them 
to be delivered to M r Lawrence Hartshorne, who has my direc- 
tions to supply them with money to carry them to their Homes. 

I have stated these impressments to have been made by 
Cap* Pashell of H. M. S. Gueriere ; yet I am not positive this 
is the case. The Commander of the Frigate which has been 
for some days off this Coast concealed his own and his Ships 
name. But several Vessels which came into Port have Stated 
that the name of the Frigate was Gueriere. Yet I observe in 
the News Paper which I inclose to you that the name of the 
Ship on board of which Digo or Diggio was impressed, is said 
to be the Pizarro. This you can easily ascertain. 

TO THE MARQUIS OF WELLESLEY. 

B: C: G: Office New York 16 Aug' 1811. 
My Lord — 

I received by the last Pacquet a letter from M r Hamilton 
under Secretary for the foreign department of State dated the 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 299 

17 th of June, in which he informs me that your Lordship had 
directed him to transmit to me an extract of a letter from Rear 
Admiral Sir Francis Laf ney Bar* : Commander in Chief in the 
Leeward Islands, representing that the French Privateer La 
Diligente had captured several English and Spanish Vessels, 
and that she was reported to be in part owned by persons in 
New York whither she was bound ; and that your Lordship 
desired me to enquire into the truth of the above statement 
and to report to your Lordship the result of my enquiries and 
also to communicate the same to His Majesty s Minister at 
Washington — 

In obedience to your Lordships directions I have made an 
attentive search through the Books of the Customs in this City, 
and in the different Insurance offices here, in which registers 
are left of any Vessel which arrives in this Port ; but not a 
Vestige is to be found, that a Privateer, or any other Vessel, 
of the name of La Diligente has been in this Port or is owned 
by a Person in this City ; nor have the officers of the Cus- 
toms, or of the Insurance offices any recollection of such a 
vessel having entered or departed this Port. I have extended 
my enquiries to the Pilots and other Individuals who it was 
probable might recollect the Circumstance, all of whom assure 
me they believe such a vessel never was here of that name — 

La Diligente, Grassin Commander is a French Privateer well 
known throughout these States, in consequence of the great 
number of English Spanish and American Vessels which she 
has captured, plundered, in some instances allowed to be ran- 
somed, but generally destroyed. The number of American 
Vessels by her captured far exceeds, that of English and Span- 
ish United. Captain Grassin arrived in La Diligente this last 
Spring at Philadelphia, where he and his Schooner still re- 
main. The American News papers have been filled with details 
of American Ships by him captured and destroyed. The Pop- 
ulace in Philadelphia meditated to burn this Schooner, at the 
instance however of Captain Grassin the Governor of the State 
of Pennsylvania issued a Proclamation inhibiting under heavy 
penalties any person or persons from injuring or molesting 
the person or property of Captain Grassin in consequence of 



300 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

which the Vessel remains safe at Philadelphia — Several ac- 
tions have been commenced against Captain Grassin by Citi- 
zens of these States, not any of which have yet been tried — 

It is said a Frenchman named Guier who lately removed 
from Baltimore to this City and who I understand is not a re- 
spectable Character is a part owner of the La Diligente. It 
has also been suggested that Guier is merely the nominal 
owner — I sent a Frenchman in whom I could confide to en- 
deavour to draw from him whether he was really the owner or 
iu any way interested in the Vessel. The inquiry was well 
managed the subject introduced as if by accident and he was 
asked whether he had made any insurance on his Vessel in 
Philadelphia against any acts of violence which might there 
be committed against her — He replied he had no interest in 
the Vessel and was merely Agent to Captain Grassin — 

There is at present a small French Privateer from L'Orient 
cruizing off this Port, named the Marengo, Ordonaux Mas- 
ter—Captain Lawrence of His Majestys Packet the Duke of 
Kent is under no apprehension of danger from her. 



TO MR. FOSTER. 1 

New York 28 th August 1811 
Sir. 

I have the Honor to send addressed to you the Evening 
Paper of this day, from which you will perceive that the Brit- 
ish Merchant Ship Tottenham, Young Master, arrived in this 
Port at 3 oClock this afternoon, a Prize to the French Priva- 
teer the Duke of Dantzic, Arregnaudic Commander, member 
of the Legion of Honor. The Tottenham was captured off 
Barbadoes the 3 d instant — The Captain and Crew, three men 
and two Boys excepted who were left on Board her, were 
taken on board the Privateer.— I have seen the Tottenham, 
She appears a Ship of 600 Tons, I am told is laden with Coals, 
the British Flag hoisted under that of France — 

1 Augustus J. Foster was ap- in Washington July 1. He had al- 
pointed as Minister to the United ready been here as secretary to Mr. 
States in April, 1811, and arrived Merry. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 301 

The above information I have thought necessary to give 
you, as I do not know of any Law of nations, which allows 
the Prizes of Belligerents to be brought in and receive pro- 
tection and comforts in a Port of a nation at peace with both 
the Belligerents — The Collector here can do nothing, conse- 
quently an application from you to the American Secretary of 
State for the restoration of this Ship is the only possible mode 
by which possession can be obtained — I am told by a man 
who was on board the Tottenham that all the Prize Crew are 
British or American Seamen as they spoke the English Ian 
guage with great fluency. 

TO ME. FOSTER. 

New York 2 nd December, 1811. 
Dear Sir. 

Having some days since discovered that the collector of the 
customs in this port, had granted permission to the captors of 
the British Ship Tottenham, a prize now here, taken by a 
French Privateer in the West Indies, to sell the cargo of that 
ship, for the purpose of repairing her; and being convinced 
that the captors did not intend to repair the ship, and that 
their object was only to realize the amount of the cargo, I 
considered it my duty to remonstrate against it, and wrote to 
the collector a Letter to that effect, a copy of which I have the 
Honor to enclose. You are the best judge, Sir, how far such 
a License, operates in violation of those principles of neutral- 
ity which the United States of America uniformly assert they 
scrupulously maintain towards Great Britain and France. 
Permit me to make this one remark, that the sale of the whole 
was incorrect, because it was uncertain what the amount of 
repairs and other incidental charges would be ; I am further 
of opinion that the repairs should have been made before the 
permission for the sale was granted. The cargo though not 
amounting to a large sum, I am of opinion will pay more than 
double the expense of repairs and charges. 

Permissions like this will induce the Commanders of French 
Privateers to send their prizes to these States, as the proceeds 



302 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

of the cargo sold here under a Custom House License, will 
amount to something of consequence ; and while it is so much 
saved to the captors, it takes from His Majesty s subjects the 
possibility of recapture. 



FROM SIR GEORGE PREVOST. 1 

Quebec 4th. January, 1812. 
Dear Sir : — 

I have been waiting for the arrival of the September and 
October letters to announce to you my appointment to the 
Chief Command, Civil and Military, in the British American 
provinces, but from some cause, hitherto unknown, neither 
the one or the other of those mails has yet reached Quebec — 
However I will no longer delay acquainting you that under a 
special Instruction from the Prince Regent I assumed the ad- 
ministration of the Government of Lower Canada, until a 
Commission of Captain General could be sent to me, and that 
I received about the same time His Royal Highness's appoint- 
ment as Commander of the Forces in British America. — 

Considering the spirit of hostility shewn to England by the 
United States no longer likely to be confined to a paper and 
commercial warfare, and that therefore it is of importance I 
should receive a correct account of the disposition and views 
of the American Government, I have sent Capt. Coore one of 
my Aids de Camp to Mr. Forster for that purpose, who is in- 
structed to communicate with you as he passes through New 
York. As great confidence may be placed in Captain Coore's 

1 Sir George Prevost, born in New credit, became a Baronet and Lieu- 
York in 1767, was the son of Augus- tenant-General, and succeeded Sir 
tine Prevost, an officer in the British James Craig as Commander of the 
Army, and Theodosia de Visme, his Forces in British North America — 
wife. Augustine Prevost having died a post he held all through the war 
in the West Indies about 1776, his with the United States. His military 
widow married Aaron Burr and be- career came to an end with the fail- 
came the mother of Theodosia Al- ure of his attack on Plattsburgh in 
ston. George Prevost entered the September, 1814. He died in London 
British Army, served with some in January, 1816. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 303 

discretion, I beg leave to refer you to him for any further par- 
ticulars respecting his present mission. 

I have etc. 

George Prevost. 

FROM SIR JOHN SHERBROOKE. 1 

Halifax, 13 th Jany, 1812. 
My dear Sir: — 

As the Packets going home do not touch here at this season 
of the year and as some of the Merchants are very desirous of 
sending letters to England I have for the public accommoda- 
tion ordered a Government Schooner to New York in the ex- 
pectation that She will arrive there before the next packet will 
sail from thence for Falmouth and as we are very much in the 
dark here with respect to the State of Public Affairs in your 
part of the world, I shall hope to be favoured with a letter 
from you by this Vessel when She returns. 

I beg to offer you my best thanks for some New York Ga- 
zettes to 3rd. Dec. last which you were so obliging as to send 
me Via Eastport & which were particularly acceptable. 

As I think it probable that Mr. Forster may wish to com- 
municate with Admiral Sawyer or with me, I enclose a letter 
which I beg you will forward to Him, and I should wish the 
Schooner to remain at New York until you receive Mr. Fors- 
ters answer in case He should have any letter to send. 

The Commander of the Schooner has received orders to re- 
port himself to you on his arrival at New York, & to attend to 
any directions which you may think proper to give Him. If 
you have not already forwarded the Articles which your Son 
was so good as to request you would purchase for me some 
time ago, I beg they may be sent by this Conveyance and as I 
have desired the Commander of the Vessel to buy several other 
things for me at New York I shall be indebted to you if you 
will afford him every assistance in making these purchases. 

I have etc. 

J. C. Sherbrooke. 

1 Commander of the Forces at Halifax. 



304 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 



Dear Sir. 



TO SIR GEORGE PREVOST. 

New York, 22 nd January, 1812. 



Captain Coore a few days since delivered me your private 
Letter of the 4 th of this month, announcing your appointment 
to the chief command, civil and military in the British Ameri- 
can Provinces. Permit me to congratulate you on this ad- 
ditional Testimony of His Majesty s gracious confidence in 
you, and His Royal approbation of your conduct. Mr. Foster 
whose residence at Washington affords him peculiar advan- 
tages in obtaining correct information of the intentions of 
this Government, will naturally possess Captain Coore with 
all that he knows on this subject, to be communicated to you. 
On Captain Coores return to this place, I shall learn from 
him; what Mr. Fosters opinion is, and should it materially 
differ from mine, I will give him my Sentiments and the rea- 
son whereon they are founded, that you may form a correct 
Judgment. I agree with you that the period is fast approach- 
ing when these States will take active hostile measures against 
Great Britain. And it is apparent that their first military 
operations will be directed against His Majestys Provinces of 
lower and upper Canada. I am satisfied also that attempts 
will be made to seduce the Inhabitants of upper Canada gen- 
erally, and the French Canadians in lower Canada from their 
allegiance. You will pardon therefore the liberty I take in 
recommending the utmost attention in admitting persons 
within cities of these provinces, as attempts will be made to 
introduce characters fitted to persuade and delude the igno- 
rant. There is a man who lives on the Line (45) between these 
States and Lower Canada, Col. Armstrong knows him, his 
name is Rous. Of him particular care should be taken, and 
of those who have communications with him. He is a sensi- 
ble, intriguing cunning man, eminently qualified for such pur- 
poses, and well acquainted with all the disaffected Canadians. 
His movements require special care. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 305 

FROM CAPTAIN THOMSON, H. M. S. COLIBRI. 

H. M. Sloop Colibri, Staten Island. 
Jany. 31st. 1812. 
SIR: 

I beg leave to acquaint you for the iuformatiou of the Ameri- 
can government of the arrival of his Majesty s Sloop under my 
command with dispatches for the British Minister at Wash- 
ington, which require an answer and which I am to be the 
bearer of, I have therefore to request you will be pleased to 
forward them without delay — They will be delivered to you 
by Lieut. Stephens, he will inform you of our sad disaster at 
Amelia, where we had run from us no less than thirteen men, 
eight of whom took a boat & went to St. Marys on the Ameri- 
can side. I waited on Commodore Campbell and the public 
Authorities requesting them to grant a warrant for their ap- 
prehension but without effect, altho' I met my men walking 
the streets I dared not apprehend them, without I was on the 
eve of being mob'd for only speaking to them and I consider 
myself fortunate to have escaped without a broken head, o 
hopeful Land of liberty, you will perceive Sir how disagreeable 
it must be to a British officer to enter any of the Ports of the 
United States at this critical period, when we are in dayly ap- 
prehension of our men deserting, and when they once touch 
the shore laugh at us, and are then protected by the public 
Authorities. For my own part I think perfect Harmony can 
never exist between the two country s until all deserters are 
given up on both sides and this settled by treaty. 

I am informed there are a number of distressed British sea- 
men in New York, and as I am considerably short of comple- 
ment I have to request you will use your exertions to procure 
me some of them as we will make some stay here. I have sent 
the Purser to procure Fresh Beef & vegetables whom I will 
thank you to assist, we shall allso want before we sail four 
live Bullocks with a proportion of Fodder and about ten or 
fiveteen Tons of water. 

I have etc. 

Jno. Thomson, Captain. 

20 



306 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 



FKOM MR. FOSTER. 

Washington, March 2G, 1812. 
My dear Sir 

I have not urged this Government again with regard to the 
Tottenham, nor do I mean to do so until you shall have heard 
of the result of your application for leave to ransom her. 

The Conduct of Sir James Craig, should the papers pro- 
duced by Henry prove authentic, in my opinion, admits of 
little Justification. 1 It seems to have been dangerous impoli- 
tic and imprudent. I have not asked to look at the papers 
nor could I compare his Signature with any Letters in his 
hand writing which you may have, without incurring the Risk 
of being obliged to acknowledge a Resemblance, therefore I 
would not trouble you to send them to me. 

Should any flagrant Case of French Violation of the Rights 
of America come under your knowledge, I should be much 
obliged to you if you would send me an authentic Copy of any 
document which you might be able to lay your hands on. I 
regret that Mr. Stewart of New London has not sent me a 
Copy of the Protest of Captain Chew. 2 

I am &c 

Aug. J. Foster 

I heard of one Cask of apples arriving safely for Mr. Ham- 
ilton the Un. Sec y who says they are excellent — so good he 
wishes for some more. 



1 James Henry's secret correspon- French frigate, and brought news of 
dence with Sir James Craig was sent the burning of two American mer- 
to Congress on March 9, 1812. chantmen by a French squadron. 

2 The brig Thames, Samuel Chew, Adams' Hist, of the U. S., Vol. VI, 
master, had been searched by a p. 193. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 307 

FEOM MR. FOSTER. 

Washington April 10, 1812 
My dear Sir, 

I believe the U. S. Act will be soon suspended or even re- 
pealed. You see it is brought on in Congress. 1 I believe the 
Congress talk of adjourning to the 20 June. There is a report 
credited by many that de W. Clinton will coalesce with Mr. 
Madison and be V. President. Your New York politics are 
becoming interesting. 2 If you hear of anything decisive in 
that way pray let me know. Do you know what Mr. Villiers 
Mansel is come to this country about. He is a young man I 
believe of about 31 years of age — I am told he is coming on 
here. I am &c 

Aug. J. Foster. 

Is there any way of writing to England from New York. I 
return you many thanks for your trouble in trying to get me 
the documents about ships captured &c. A. J. F. 



FROM MR. FOSTER. 

Washington April 24, 1812 
My dear Sir, 

I thank you for your letter of the 19 th inst. The Senate 
read twice a bill for adjourning to-day, time in blank, supposed 
will be to the 2? June, it is uncertain if it will pass in the house. 
Indeed everything is uncertain here. Last week, we should 
have all sworn there would be war, to-day it's adjournment. 
Don't be surprized if I fear committing myself in giving an 
opinion when such changes are constantly taking place. 

I will be much obliged to you to give me the Character of 
de Wit Clinton how he lives at New York, what fortune he 
has, his age & friends. 

1 A bill to suspend the non-impor- 2 An election was to take place in 

tation act was considered in the May ; and it resulted in a Federalist 

House of Representatives on April success. 
9. It did not pass. 



308 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

I shall also thank you to give me any information you may 
possess as to the State of defences of New York Harbor & as 
to the manufactures lately established in the State. 

Ever yours &c 

Aug. J. Foster. 



FKOM VICE-ADMIRAL SAWYER. 

Bermuda May 7, 1812 
(Private.) 
My dear Sir, 

The Bramble is charged with Despatches for Mr. Foster, 
and has brought two Seamen late of the Chesapeake, which I 
retain here 'till the pleasure of the U. S. Government is known, 
as to where they are to be sent — with which information the 
Bramble will call here on her way home — when I hope at the 
same time to hear, matters at Washington, are from the late 
aggressions of the French, putting on a more favourable as- 
pect — His R. H. the Regent appears to have great difficulties 
in forming an Administration, but we still trust the good 
sense of all parties will prevail, and the general good be the 
ultimate object of all — in Spain all looks well, 1 and in the 
North, it is to be hoped Buonaparte will find his hands full. 

I have very much to thank you for your attention to all my 
little Commissions, and will take care you receive the amount 
in specie, as soon as I reach Halifax, — my departure for which 
will not be (if no unforeseen occurrence arises) till after I again 
hear from Mr. Foster. 

We have ships on the look out for the French Frigates, who 
seem to spare their friends as little as their foes — which is per- 
haps at this moment very fortunate. 

Will Mr. Madison in any shape avow or countenance the late 
transaction at Amelia ? 2 

I am &c 

H. Sawyer. 

1 Ciudad Rodrigo, January 19 ; though his action was disapproved, 
Badajoz, April 6, 1812. possession of the island was retained 

2 General Matthews seized Ame- by the United States, 
lia Island on March 19, 1812; and 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 309 

P. S. I have just got hold of 130 Dollars which I send in 
part payment of my debts — perhaps you can send me a few- 
Pots of very superior f rench Pomatum — and two Half Chests 
of Tea by this same Bramble — or to Halifax at some future 
time. 



FROM MR. FOSTER. 

Washington May 10, 1812 

(Private.) 
Dear Sir, 

It was a Map that might include a general outline of the har- 
bour of New York with its Islands & batteries that I wished, 
but I should rather have a good plan of the harbour. 

I am obliged to you for all your hints & for your Informa- 
tion about Emigrants to the U. S. I fear the sending back 
some of the Irish unless done with great Circonspection might 
tend in a degree to hold forth an idea that returning would be 
a Matter of little difficulty & encourage many to come over on 
speculation to look about them in the hopes of getting back 
for nothing if they did not succeed — tho' the Welsh case you 
cite is certainly a strong one. Perhaps the promising to send 
their Letters free of Expence to their friends might have the 
same effect as their being sent back by holding to them an in- 
ducement to write their sentiments freely & at full length. It 
must be seldom that a Man who has once broke up his Estab- 
lishment & the ties which attach him to a Country can be an 
acquisition to it in returning. 

It is now thought that the Restrictive System is all the rage 
and that the plan of war is but a Mask to the continuance of 
it, — so absolutely are they here without Chart or Compass 
that I really am at a loss to give you news — or accounts of 
any kind. 

When I see such unstable proceedings I think more than 
ever on the value of the sentiments of Horace justum et tena- 
cem propositi virum &c — but then the justum is as it should 
be the first word & Condition of all the rest. 

20* 



310 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

Be assured we work for friendly relations with America but 
then it is necessary they should be more impartial & less un- 
gracious to us than they have hitherto been. 

What is become of Mr. Villiers — it was said he was at Bal- 
timore — is it not strange L d . Jersey's Brother should be here 
& have no letter for me who know L d . and L y . Jersey very well ? 

Ever Yours &c 

Aug. J. Foster. 

I am glad to see you have sent on my Letters to Halifax — 
where can the V. Admiral be. I much fear some Collision 
with the American frigates — they have taken in 6 months 
water & provisions I hear and are gone Southward. 

A. J. F. 



FROM MR. FOSTER. 

Washington June 20, 1812 
My dear Sir, 

I am not yet able to send you officially the decision of the 
American Government respecting your Consular functions 
nor the act declaring War. I shall, however, be able to do so 
to-morrow. 

I pray you to send off Coasters in every Direction to 
apprize H. M. Ships of the State of things that they may 
keep together and join the admiral. The American frigates 
have no orders as I have been informed to go far to Sea in 
Search of our Ships, and no Privateers will be yet allowed to 
go to Sea. 

Mr. Baker 1 does not go on to-morrow but a Mr. Hamilton 

1 Anthony St. John Baker, the ning of the year 1813. He was Sec- 
British Secretary of Legation. He retary of the British Commissioners 
remained for some time in the at Ghent, brought the ratified treaty 
United States acting as agent for to Washington, and was then re- 
prisoners of war. The Government ceived as Charge d' Affaires, in which 
finally refused to hold further com- office he continued until the arrival 
munication with him, and he re- of Mr. Charles Bagot as Minister, in 
turned to England about the begin- 1817. 



CONSUL-GENERAL, 1807-1812 311 

who will take Dispatches for me to England by way of Hali- 
fax will set out in Monday's mail stage. I beg you will en- 
deavour to procure a Conveyance for him either to drop him at 
Halifax or conditionally to take him the whole way to Eng- 
land should the Adm 1 have no vessel for him. 

I am &c 

Aug. J. Foster 



CHAPTER VII 

AGENT FOR BRITISH PRISONERS 

HM. S. Colibri, sailing away from New-York with 
• the British Minister and the British Consul- 
General, touched at Halifax, and was there met by the 
news that Great Britain — just too late — had suspended 
the orders in council. Foster forwarded the despatches 
to Baker, his Secretary of Legation, at Washington, 1 
and the Colibri continued on to England, arriving 
about August 22, 1812. If Barclay landed at Ports- 
mouth, as is most likely, he must have been welcomed 
there by his naval son, who had just been appointed to 
command H. M. S. Success, then lying at Portsmouth 
under orders for Halifax and Bermuda. 

On reaching London, Barclay, like many an Ameri- 
can traveler since his day, took lodgings in Clarges 
street, near Piccadilly ; and later removed to Queen 
street just out of Curzon street in Mayfair. 

A month after his departure from New- York the war 
had fairly begun, with its two unpleasant surprises — 
defeat for the Americans on land and for the British at 
sea. Hull had surrendered at Detroit on August 16, 
and three days later the Constitution had utterly de- 
stroyed the Guerriere, after less than thirty minutes of 
fierce cannonading. 

The news of both events reached London on Octo- 

1 American State Papers, For. Rel., Vol. Ill, p. 587. 

312 



AGENT FOR BRITISH PRISONERS 313 

ber 6. On September 1, Jonathan Eussell, the Amer- 
ican Charge, had notified Lord Castlereagh of his 
departure for the United States, and of the appoint- 
ment of Mr. Beasley as American agent for prisoners 
of war in Great Britain ; and three weeks later he had 
sailed for New-York. It had thus become evident that 
the American Government was in earnest in its prose- 
cution of the war ; that each party had failed where it 
might reasonably have felt a confidence of success; 
that the combatants were not unequally matched ; and 
that the struggle promised to be long and doubtful. 

Prisoners on each side were rapidly accumulating. 
What with the naval and military forces that had sur- 
rendered, and the crews of merchant ships taken by 
privateers or national vessels, the numbers were al- 
ready large. In England, and at Quebec, Halifax, and 
Jamaica, American prisoners were confined in barracks 
or on shipboard. At Salem, Pittsfield, Worcester, Al- 
bany, Savannah and Chillicothe, British soldiers and 
sailors were detained, — often with inadequate food and 
clothing, in unsuitable quarters, and not infrequently 
in the common jail. The appointment of a British 
agent for prisoners of war, to reside in the United 
States, was thus ail obvious necessity, and the choice 
very naturally fell upon Barclay. The formal mode of 
his appointment is not a little singular, as illustrating 
the methods of circumlocution which prevailed in the 
British public service. On November 13, 1812, the 
Lords of the Admiralty issued their order to "the com- 
missioners for conducting his Majesty's transport ser- 
vice," directing them to appoint Colonel Barclay their 
accredited agent in the United States for the purpose 
of attending to the relief of British prisoners, with a 
salary of two pounds a day, and allowances for clerk 



314 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

hire and traveling expenses; and thereupon the trans- 
port board in turn issued their warrant to Barclay, and 
gave him the necessary authority and instructions. 

Saying obtained leave from the Foreign Office to ac- 
cept this appointment, Barclay sailed from Portsmouth 
early in January for Bermuda, where he met and con- 
sulted with Sir John Borlase Warren, the admiral in 
command o\' the station, who had been vested with ex- 
tensive powers to treat with the American Government. 
From Bermuda Barclay proceeded to New-York, where 
he arrived on April 1, 1813, and immediately wont to 
Washington to present his credentials to the Secretary 
oi State. The President had appointed as Conunissary- 
General of prisoners, (General John Mason, who lived 
near Georgetown on the pleasant island o\' Analostan; 1 
and with him Barclay at once proceeded to business. 
The first step was to frame a cartel for regulating ex- 
changes of prisoners. A preliminary agreement had 
been concluded at Halifax in November, but it was de- 
fective and unsatisfactory in many respects, and after 
much discussion a revised agreement was prepared and 
signed at Washington on May 12, 1813. It provides for 
the humane treatment and speedy exchange o\ prison- 

* John Mason was the fourth son time of the war with England, Ana- 

of the well-known Virginia states- lostan Island (which lies in the Po- 

man, George Mason of Gunston Hall, tomao, opposite Georgetown) was 

lie was born in the spring of 17ih>. one of the ohief attractions o\' the 

and spent several of the earlier years District of Columbia. A. charming 

of his life as a merchant at Bor- account of the house and grounds, 

deaux, in France. He married a Miss as also incidentally of Mrs. Mason 

Murray of Annapolis, Md., and thus and her nine children, will bo found 

became connected with Richard in Warden's District of Columbia 

Rush, whoso wife was a sistor of (1816), pp. 134-150, "Wo walked to 

Mr- Another sister was the Mansion house." says the writer, 

the wife of Governor Lloyd of Mary- "under a delicious shade, the blos- 

land. Mason was a man of means soms of the cherry, apple and peach 

and entertained largely, and at the trees, of the hawthorn and aromatic 



AGENT FOR BRITISH PRISONERS 315 

ers of war ; defines what persons are to be considered 
non-combatant, and declares that they shall not be held 
as prisoners ; authorizes the appointment by each party 
of sub-agents at the several depots; establishes the 
forms of paroles for officers, the allowances for subsis- 
tence of prisoners in health, and the care to be given to 
the sick ; specifies what punishments may be inflicted in 
case of disorderly conduct ; prescribes the number of 
cartel-ships to be employed, and how they shall be fitted 
and supplied ; and in general regulates with great pre- 
cision the rights of prisoners and the powers and duties 
of prison guards. 

This task completed, and the troublesome business 
of verifying the number and rank of the prisoners on 
each side being put in a fair way of settlement, Barclay 
left Washington about the middle of May, and once 
more found himself in the rural seclusion of Harlem. 
New- York was considered a military post and he was 
forbidden to come within it, so that his activities wore 
necessarily confined to a very sustained and vigorous 
correspondence with General Mason and with the vari- 
ous British sub-agents throughout the country. The 
correspondence with Mason, extending over a period 

shrubs, filling the air with their fra- which was modeled after the stylo 

grance. . . . The house, of a simple of a French chateau, and was known 

and neat form, is situated near that asClermont, in Fairfax County, Vir- 

sido of the island which commands ginia; and there ho died on March 

a view of the Potomac, the Presi- 19, 1849. One of his sons, John 

dent's house, the Capitol, and other Murray Mason, sat in the United 

buildings. The garden, the sides of States Senate, and, in connection 

which aro washed by tlio waters of with his colleague, Mr. Slidoll of 

the river, is ornamented with a va- Louisiana, acquired international 

riety of trees and shrubs, and in the notoriety in 1861. See as to the 

midst, there is a lawn covered with Mason Family, Miss Rowland's 

a beautiful verdure." At a later po- Life, Correspondence, and Speeches 

riod Mason built another house, of George Mason. 



316 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

of nearly eighteen months, embraced a multiplicity 
of topics. The rights of non-combatants, the effect of 
paroles, the carrying away of slaves, the alleged seduc- 
tion by one nation or the other of prisoners in its cus- 
tody, were constant subjects of discussion. The send- 
ing to England of some Irish soldiers captured on the 
Niagara River, whom it was believed the British Grov- 
ernment intended to try upon charges of treason, led 
to retaliation and counter-retaliation; and the escape 
of certain British officers held as hostages at Worcester, 
Massachusetts, gave still further occasion for endless ex- 
change of letters. In addition, there were the daily 
questions of detail — the giving of a parole by this offi- 
cer and the surrender of his parole by that ; the status 
of the crew of the Essex, captured at Valparaiso and 
paroled by Capt. Hillyar, R. N., of whom a certain 
midshipman Farragut was one ; the sailing and arrival 
of cartel-ships; the verification of lists of prisoners; 
the physical condition of the men at the various de- 
pots as reported by the sub-agents: all of which needed 
incessant attention. 1 

For a time matters went forward smoothly enough ; 
but toward the autumn of 1813 the letters began to 
assume a more acrimonious tone, each of the corre- 
spondents being engaged in the fascinating but some- 
what futile pursuit of trying to put his adversary in the 
wrong. Mason, however, had at least the advantage of 
physical force on his side, and he sought to cut the cor- 
respondence short by bringing Barclay to the neighbor- 
hood of Washington. An order was issued designating 
Bladensburg as his place of residence. Barclay pro- 
tested in vain. He was assured that " Bladensburg is 

1 The correspondence was, in part, laid before Congress, and will be found 
in Amer. State Papers, For. Eel., Vol. Ill, pp. 630-684, 728-730. 



AGENT FOR BRITISH PRISONERS 317 

a comfortable village, inhabited by a respectable people, 
among whom are several opulent and genteel Families, 
supplied by a plentiful adjacent country, and affording 
for occupancy not only decent, but convenient and re- 
spectable houses," and the order to proceed thither was 
repeated. Barclay despatched to London his resignation 
as agent for prisoners, to take effect on the arrival of 
his successor, and about February 22, 1814, he re- 
luctantly set out over the all but impassable roads of 
retreating winter for the "comfortable village" which 
was to be his residence. 

His residence at Bladensburg was brought to a sud- 
den close by causes over which neither he nor the 
American Government had any control. On August 
17 Admiral Cochrane's squadron anchored at the 
mouth of the Patuxent, and landed upward of 4000 
British troops. Two days later Mason wrote that a 
" residence at a place in the interior more remote from 
the waters " was considered suitable under the existing 
circumstances, and Barclay was required to remove at 
once to Hagerstown. On the morning of August 24 — 
the day of the battle of Bladensburg — Barclay departed. 

A week later Mason wrote again. The purport of his 
letter this time was to inform Colonel Barclay that the 
American Government declined to hold any further 
correspondence with him. Two grounds were assigned 
for this determination. The first, that Barclay had not 
left Bladensburg until the very day of the battle ; the 
second, that he had attempted to communicate secretly 
with Admiral Cochrane.. Barclay's reply was brief. 
He had remained at Bladensburg because he could find 
no vehicle to carry him away ; and though he had given 
Mr. Edward Calvert a letter to Admiral Cochrane, it 
was merely to request him to release two of Mr. Cal- 



318 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

vert's servants who had been made prisoners. This 
explanation was never disputed, and subsequent events 
showed that the authorities at Washington were satis- 
fied there was no dishonorable purpose in Barclay's 
conduct. But a natural irritation lingered after the 
burning of Washington, and Barclay, at his own request, 
was furnished with a passport to leave the country. 

About the middle of October, 1814, he sailed from 
New- York in the American ship Fingal, accompanied 
by his youngest son Anthony, who had come back with 
him from England. Barclay had intended taking with 
him his wife and his unmarried daughter, Ann ; but for 
some reason they were left behind. 

The war was nearly over when Barclay for the third 
time landed in England. For three months the com- 
missioners of the two belligerent nations had been sitting 
at Ghent, and by the end of November negotiations had 
so far progressed that the sole remaining questions had 
been reduced to two points — the fisheries and the pos- 
session of Moose Island in Passamaquoddy Bay. On 
December 24, 1814, the treaty of peace was signed. 

Barclay found both his elder sons again promoted. 
De Lancey had been appointed to the First Foot Guards 
on July 25. Thomas had been made a post captain 
on June 7, upon the signing of the treaty of peace 
with France, and had retired on half pay September 
30, 1814. 

TO MR. HAMILTON. 

No. 4 Clarges Street, London, 

21st November, 1812. 
Sir. 

In a conversation some days since with Sir Rupert George 
of the Transport Board, he mentioned to me the necessity of 
sending to America an Agent for Prisoners of War. I in- 



AGENT FOR BRITISH PRISONERS 319 

formed him that if it met with the approbation of Lord Cas- 
tlereagh, 1 I had no objection to go in that character, as I was 
at present without any immediate consular employment, and 
considered it probable under cloak of the superintendance of 
British Prisoners of War, I might from time to time have it 
in my power, from the extensive acquaintance which fourteen 
years residence in the United States had given me, to furnish 
not only His Majesty's ministers, but the Governor General of 
Canada and His Majesty's naval and military Commanders in 
Nova Scotia with early information. 

I am now called on for my answer, or rather the Lords 
Commissioners of the Admiralty without any further commu- 
nication have ordered me to be appointed. I cannot however 
think of accepting this appointment without Lord Castle- 
reagh's entire approbation, and under an assurance that it 
shall not interfere with the consular appointment, I have for 
many years held under His Majesty. 

Employment to me is preferable to Idleness, and I feel as- 
sured, that if the War with America is protracted, it will be in 
my power from holding the proposed appointment to commu- 
nicate to His Majesty's ministers early intelligence of what 
occurs in the states. Under this impression permit me to re- 
quest, you will be pleased to communicate the purport of this 
letter to Lord Castlereagh and to add that if it is his pleasure 
I should go to America under the present temporary proposed 
appointment, that I am ready to obey his commands ; if not 
that I will immediately decline the proposal. 



FROM MR. HAMILTON. 

Foreign Office, 

Nov. 27, 1812. 
Dear Sir, 

I did not omit to lay before Lord Castlereagh your letter of 
the 21st inst acquainting His Lordship of your nomination by 

J-Lord Castlereagh became Foreign Secretary on February 22, 1812, on 
the retirement of the Marquis of Wellesley. 



320 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

the Lords of the Admiralty to reside as Agent for Prisoners 
of War in the United States of America and requesting his 
Sanction to your acceptance of that Appointment. I have 
the Satisfaction to assure you that Lord Castlereagh perfectly 
approves of your Intention to accept it if not objectionable to 
yourself, and that it will in no way interfere with the renewal 
of your late Appointment under this office. 

I am &c 

W. Hamilton. 



FROM THE TRANSPORT BOARD. 

Transport office 11 th December 1812. 
Sir. 

Having by our warrant under this date appointed you to 
be an Agent to reside in the United States of America for the 
relief of British Prisoners of War in those States, and for 
carrying on under our direction a general exchange of Prison- 
ers upon such Principles as may hereafter be settled between 
the two Countries, we direct you upon the receipt of this letter 
to proceed with all convenient dispatch to the United States 
for the purpose of taking upon yourself the Functions of your 
employment accordingly ; and immediately after your arrival 
there you are to present yourself to Admiral Sir John B. War- 
ren, or the Flag officer Commanding in Chief, or senior officer 
on that Station, and to communicate to him your warrant and 
instructions consulting with him as to the fittest place for you 
to take up your residence. 

You will lose no time in demanding of the American Gov- 
ernment, through the proper Channel, permission to visit all 
the depots for British Prisoners of War as often as you may 
judge necessary, taking care to inform the American Govern- 
ment, that whatever Privileges and Tndulgencies may be al- 
lowed to you the same will be granted to M r R. G. Beasley 
who is accredited here as the American Agent for Prisoners 
of War. 

You are further with as little delay as possible to endeavour 



AGENT FOR BRITISH PRISONERS 321 

to procure from such department of the American Govern- 
ment as the Business may immediately concern (and to trans- 
mit to us) a list of all the British Subjects who are detained 
as Prisoners of War in the United States, specifying their 
names, quality, time of capture, in what Ship captured, the 
place of their detention and whether on parole or not respec- 
tively, as also lists of all such, as shall have been released since 
the commencement of the War. 

For your information and guidance we herewith transmit 
to you Copies of the several instructions and regulations rela- 
tive to the treatment of American Prisoners of War in Health 
in this Country, and of the allowance made to them, whether 
in confinement or on Parole, and with respect to sick Prison- 
ers it is only necessary to inform you, that they are treated in 
all respects the same, as Seamen of His Majestys Navy. There 
is no part of the Treatment of American Prisoners here, that 
we are not desirous to be open to every proper inspection, and 
the most humane and generous means are established for af- 
fording them every reasonable comfort that their State of 
Captivity will admit of. We therefore flatter ourselves that 
upon your application, the American Government will issue 
such orders, as may be necessary for your having commu- 
nication with all the British Prisoners either personally, or 
through the medium of such Sub- Agents, as you may find it 
necessary to appoint, and generally give you every assistance 
in the execution of the Service entrusted to your case. 

You are to report to us as soon as possible, the exact quan- 
tities and nature of the allowances, whether in provisions, or 
money, which the British Prisoners may be entitled to from 
the American Government, and you are always to be particu- 
larly attentive that those allowances be fully distributed. — 
You will also take care to inform yourself, whether there are 
any British Prisoners entitled from their Rank and Qualities 
to the indulgence of Parole, who do not enjoy it ; and in the 
event of any case of this kind or improper treatment of any 
other nature coming to your knowledge, you are to make a 
becoming remonstrance to the proper department of the Amer- 
ican Government on the Subject. 

21 



322 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

You are to lose no time, in obtaining information, respect- 
ing the State of the clothing of the Prisoners, and to report 
the same to us, in order that we may be enabled to give you 
directions on the subject. In the mean time we authorize you 
to purchase on the best terms in your power, such articles as 
any of the Prisoners may be in absolute want of. 

Besides the allowances which may be made to the Prisoners 
by the American Government, we authorize you to cause to be 
paid to them the several allowances specified in the enclosed 
paper according to their respective qualities, on account of 
this department, taking care that such payments be made ac- 
cording to the par of exchange. 

If British Prisoners carried into the Ports of the United 
States by French cruizers be delivered up to your Sub Agents, 
and no objection to their release be made on the part of the 
American Government, you are to cause all Prisoners of that 
description to be subsisted at the charge of this department 
from the time of their being so delivered up, and we author- 
ize you to pay to such Prisoners the daily allowances specified 
in the above mentioned Paper according to their respective 
Ranks. 

With respect to the Hire of Vessels for the removal of Pris- 
oners of War from the United States, you are to consult the 
Admiral if there be time ; and also to apply to the Boards Agents 
at Halifax and Bermuda in case they should have any Vessels 
at their disposal, transmitting Lists &c &c to those Agents of 
the Prisoners embarked ; and it is expected you will pay every 
attention in your power to the most strict Economy in this, as 
well as every other matter respecting which it is impossible to 
give you any definite instructions. We think it proper how- 
ever to observe to you, that all Vessels ought to be hired at a 
certain rate per man or per Ton for the Voyage or Run ; and 
not for time, and that no Prisoners be sent to Europe without 
the order of the Commander in Chief or Flag officer, but be 
conveyed to Halifax, Bermuda, and the West India Islands, 
including the Bahamas. The proportion of the Prisoners to 
the Tonnage of a cartel Vessel, must depend upon the length 
of the Voyage, and the particular construction of the Vessel, 



AGENT FOR BRITISH PRISONERS 323 

but between this Country and Prance, it is usual to embark 
not less than three men for every two Tons. Tho daily ra- 
tion which you are to order for British Prisoners while on 
their voyage from the United States is to be, one pound of 
Bread, one pound of Beef (or two-thirds of a pound of Pork) 
and one quarter of a pint of Rum for all Prisoners without 
distinction, and no more. — The Passports to be given to such 
Vessels must of course be from the American Government, 
and all Vessels conveying American Prisoners from hence 
will be furnished with Passports from us in the annexed form, 
nevertheless each Vessel having British Prisoners on Board, 
should be furnished with a certificate from you, or one of your 
Sub Agents, stating the Service on which she is employed, 
and in order to prevent misconceptions it will be proper for 
you to communicate with the American Government on the 
subject of such Instructions. Vessels hired for the convey- 
ance of Prisoners must always be supplied with a proper 
quantity of Water at the expense of the owner, and it will be 
adviseable to agree with the owners of such Vessels at a cer- 
tain rate per day for the Prisoners victualling. 

Your sub Agents will be allowed after the rate of five Shil- 
lings per day for every day on which any British Prisoners 
are under their care. 

We enclose for your further information a copy of a letter 
from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty by which you 
will perceive that no British released Seamen, not belonging 
to His Majestys Navy are to be impressed until 48 Hours 
shall have expired after their arrival at a British Port, which 
you are to cause to be made known to all British Seamen who 
may embark on board Cartels. 

The printed copies of instructions to Agents for Prisoners 
of War are sent to you for your information respecting the 
manner in which Prisoners of War are treated by us, but you 
must be well aware that no specific Instructions to Agents 
of British Prisoners in Enemies Countries can be prepared in 
a similar manner, because the nature and details of Instruc- 
tions in such cases must depend entirely upon the way in 
which such Prisoners are treated by the Government of the 



324 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

Country in which they are detained. For this reason when 
any particular point occurs to you upon which you may wish 
to have our directions, it is proper that you should communi- 
cate it to us from time to time with as little delay as possible, 
and in the mean time to procure and follow the directions of 
the Admiral or Flag officer, with whom you are also generally 
to communicate respecting the duties which you are entrusted 
to perform under this department. 

We enclose for your information a copy of an order from 
the Right Honorable the Lords Commissioners of the Ad- 
miralty relative to a proposed Cartel for the exchange of Pris- 
oners of War between this Country and the United States of 
America, together with a project for such Cartel which we 
have also transmitted to Admiral The Right Honorable Sir 
John Borlase Warren and requested that he would through 
you, or any other Channel make the necessary communication 
on the Subject to the American Government. 

You are to transmit to us quarterly accounts of your ex- 
penses and to draw upon us from time to time for such Sums 
as you may require for carrying on the service entrusted to 
you — For your further information we annex a list of our 
several Agents in the West Indies and America 

We are 
Sir 
your most humble Servants 
J. Bowen 
Jno. Harness 
J. Boothby 



from the transport board. 

(Secret.) 

Transport Office, — 

5th January, 1813. 
Sir, 

In pursuance of Instructions from the Right Honorable 
the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, we direct you to 



AGENT FOR BRITISH PRISONERS 325 

proceed to Portsmouth, so as to be there before the 7th in- 
stant, waiting on Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton immediately 
on your Arrival, who has Orders to provide you with a Pas- 
sage to your Destination ; and you are, for very particular 
Reasons, to avoid, if possible, making either your Name, or 
Destination, known to any other Person than the Admiral. 

We are, &c. 

J. Bowen 
Jno. Harness 
W. Boothby. 



TO the transport board. 

Washington City 15 th April 1813. 
Sirs. 

I have the honor to inform you that I arrived at New York 
on the first of this month from Bermuda, and at this place on 
the 5 th Instant, I immediately waited on the Secretary of State 
and delivered to him my warrant and Instructions from you 
to be laid before the President of the United States, in order 
to my being accredited as His Majesty's Agent for the relief 
of British Prisoners of War and for carrying on under your 
directions a general exchange of Prisoners. 

The President has been pleased to receive me in that 
character, and has since appointed General John Mason of 
George Town in Columbia Commissary General of Prison- 
ers of War throughout the United States of America: with 
whom I am directed to confer on all points relating to my 
mission. 

General Mason and myself have had three conferences and 
have made some progress in the arrangement of a system for 
the future subsistence and clothing of Prisoners, and their 
accommodations. Preparations have also commenced on 
the part of this government to draw together the British 
Prisoners now in these States, in order to their being sent as 
speedily as possible to Bermuda and the West Indies, and 



326 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

the cartels which convey them are to bring back a corre- 
sponding number of Americans. The President not having 
ratified the provisional agreement for the exchange of 
Prisoners made at Halifax in Nova Scotia on the 28th of 
November last; some small alterations have been proposed 
by him, which in my opinion are not of moment to oppose, 
and which I shall, with an amendment on the part of his 
Majesty conditionally agree to, subject to your and Sir 
John Borlase "Warren's ratification. These when prepared 
shall be forwarded. 

I have reason to believe, from the assurances of the Secre- 
tary of State, and General Mason, that this Government is 
desirous that every facility shall be given to the exchange of 
Prisoners of War, and to their comfort while Prisoners. 

I enclose for your information a copy of a letter addressed 
to General Mason on the subject of British Prisoners being 
enticed to enter into the service of the United States, to which 
I have not yet received an answer. I have however his and 
the Secretary of States verbal assurances, that if any such 
irregularities have occurred at the commencement of the War 
they were without the knowledge of the Government and that 
they shall not hereafter be permitted. 

Sir John B. Warren having coincided in opinion with me 
that New York, being a central position, was best adapted for 
my residence, I have obtained the President's leave to reside 
there for the present. 

I learn with regret that a difference in opinion exists be- 
tween Lieut. General Sir George Prevost, Governor General 
and commanding His Majesty's Forces in the Canadas, and 
this Government on the Subject of Exchanges made last Au- 
tumn. A case on the part of these States is now preparing 
for me, which I shall transmit to Sir George Prevost, and re- 
quest his answer. Of both these I shall avail myself of the 
earliest conveyance to forward you copies, with my remarks 
thereon, to enable you to more readily to give me your orders 
on the Subject. 

All letters coming to or going from this country are opened 
and read by persons appointed for that purpose, and when 



AGENT FOR BRITISH PRISONERS 327 

considered of importance transmitted to the Secretary of State 
at this place. 



TO SIR JOHN BORLASE WARREN. 

(Private and confidential.) 

Washington 14 th April 1813. 
Dear Sir. 

I took occasion to observe to Mr. Monroe my surprise that 
this Government had not acceded to the proposal of Rear Ad- 
miral Cockburn, to receive from him American Prisoners and 
return British by the same conveyances. In reply Mr. Monroe 
did not acknowledge the fact, but made this remark, that if 
anything- unpleasant or apparently unreasonable had occurred, 
it was wholly to be attributed to the conduct of Mr. Baker who 
had been left here, as pro tempore Agent for Prisoners of War 
by Mr. Foster. That he had given great offense, and would 
have been indicted, had not the President interfered, who was 
averse to such strong measures against a Gentleman, who had 
lately held the appointment of Secretary of Legation, that in 
consequence of Mr. Baker's conduct he had for some time past 
refused all communication with him. I discovered a principle 
cause of complaint against him was his having after his Func- 
tions as Secretary of Legation ceased, and while he acted 
merely as Agent for Prisoners of War, delivered a number of 
Licenses (to protect Cargoes) left with him by Mr. Foster. 
Mr. Monroe expressed his satisfaction on my arrival, and 
added that I should find every disposition on the part of this 
Government to carry on exchanges on principles of reciprocity 
and liberality. In the amendments to the provisional agree- 
ment for the exchange of Prisoners, it will be proposed that Ber- 
muda is made a depot ; or possibly that it should be substi- 
tuted in the place of Bridge Town Barbadoes. To the former, 
I think you will have no objection. I notice in the American 
papers that the Masters and Crews of several vessels captured 
by the Brig Atalauta have been sent into these States and, 
from the manner in which it is stated apprehend proper re- 



328 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

ceipts have not been obtained. It is therefore advisable until 
I make the necessary arrangements, not to send them on shore 
in this irregular manner. I will thank you to direct your Sec- 
retary to order Lieut. Miller of Halifax to forward to me cor- 
rect returns of all American Prisoners sent from Halifax, and 
copies of the receipts taken when delivered — also returns of 
all British Prisoners received from these states in exchange. 
I have reason to believe this Government intend to put a stop 
to the present communications by Packets, and I informed 
Mr. Monroe, that I suspected that mode of communication was 
far from agreeable to you. 



TO SIR THOMAS HARDY. 1 

Washington 21 April 1813. 

Your letter of the 11th of this month dated off Block Island, 
I received last evening. I arrived here from Bermuda on the 
Gth Instant and was much surprised to learn from Mr. Monroe 
the American Secretary of State that the provisional agree- 
ment executed in November last at Halifax, had not been rati- 
fied by the President of the United States, or measures taken 
by this Government, with Mr. Baker, to amend the agreement 
and to send it to Admiral Sir John Warren for his approval. 
On expressing my surprise Mr. Monroe informed me, the delay 
had been occasioned by the improper Conduct of Mr. Baker, 
and with whom he had declined having further communica- 
tions. I did not think proper to enter on the merits of the 
dispute. 

This Government received me with politeness and have as- 
sured me of every disposition on their part to facilitate a gen- 
eral exchange, and to continue exchanges on liberal and hu- 
mane principles. General John Mason has been appointed 
Commissary General of Prisoners of War, and I am directed 

1 Nelson's Captain Hardy, the commander of the Victory at Trafalgar, and 
who was now in command of the squadron blockading New London. 



AGENT FOR BRITISH PRISONERS 329 

to confer with him on all matters relating to my mission to 
these States. 

One of our first objects has been to amend the provisional 
Agreement, so as to meet the convenience of the President, 
and of the Admiral and final ratification on the part of His 
Majesty. It includes Land Forces. This day it is to be laid 
before the President. Until he ratifies it, I cannot give you 
any directions on the subject of receipts for Prisoners whom 
you may land in the United States. In the meantime I beg 
leave to recommend your continuing the mode you have al- 
ready used, and obtain receipts from the Chief Justice or some 
other Magistrate of Respectability. I doubt however the pro- 
priety of making use of this mode in the event of your captur- 
ing any American Ship or Vessel of War ; in such a case a 
more formal exchange and delivery would be necessary. In 
addition to my communicating with the Admiral, I shall take 
the earliest means to transmit to you the Agreement as 
amended. 



TO SIR JOHN BORLASE WARREN. 

George Town 26th April 1813. 
Sir. 

In my despatch of the 14th current I stated to you that the 
provisional Agreement for the exchange of Prisoners entered 
into at Halifax by Mr. Uniacke and Lieut. Miller on the part 
of his Majesty and Mr. Michell on the part of the United 
States of America in November last had not met the approba- 
tion of the President, and that he had directed General John 
Mason the American Commissary General of Prisoners to con- 
fer with me on the subject of amending the provisional agree- 
ment so as to meet the wishes of both parties. 

General Mason and myself have therefore altered several of 
the Articles and added two to the original number. They 
have been laid before the President who is ready to ratify 
them on the part of the United States in order that they may 



330 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

be sent to England for the necessary ratification on the part of 
His Majesty. I informed this Government, that it was my 
duty prior to ratification to submit the agreement as amended 
to your consideration. I now enclose it and hope it will meet 
your approbation : but should this not be the case, I will thank 
you to be distinct and full on the Subject to which you may 
dissent, or require an amendment, so that I may fully compre- 
hend your wishes. 

As this agreement comprehends Prisoners taken on Land 
and Sea and extends to all His Majesty's Dominions, your sig- 
nature of approval to it becomes unnecessary, perhaps im- 
proper because in that case it must also be sent not only to Lt. 
General Sir George Prevost at Quebec, but to all other Com- 
manders in Chief. I therefore submit it to you for your ap- 
proval, and when amended agreeably to what may comport 
with your Ideas, the instrument will be signed by General 
Mason and myself and ratified by the President, after which I 
will transmit it to the Commissioners for Transport and Pris- 
oners of War to be by them laid before His Royal Highness 
The Prince Regent for his Royal Pleasure thereon. 



TO THE TRANSPORT BOARD. 

Harlaem near New York 

20 th May 1813. 
Sirs, 

Referring you to my letter of the 15th of April of which a 
duplicate is enclosed I have the Honor to enclose to you the 
Agreement entered into between John Mason Esqr. Commis- 
sary General of Prisoners on the part of the United States 
and myself as His Majesty's Agent for Prisoners of War. I 
forward it for your consideration and to be laid before the 
Lords of the Admiralty and the other proper departments of 
State. 

As this Agreement is of a nature not of sufficient magnitude 



AGENT FOR BRITISH PRISONERS 331 

to require the ratification of His Royal Highness the Prince 
Regent it was proposed by the President of the United States 
that it should be ratified upon the part of the United States 
by the American Secretary of State and on the part of His Ma- 
jesty by the Lords of the Admiralty. A copy of this agree- 
ment with the ratification by Mr. Munroe the American Sec- 
retary of State will be forwarded by him to their Lordships, 
and if no objection lays to the agreement their Lordships will 
be pleased to transmit a copy ratified by them to this Govern- 
ment. It may however be prudent to delay the ratification 
until Sir George Prevost communicates to his Secretary of 
State his opinion, to whom I send a copy, and I have sub- 
mitted it to Admiral Sir John Warren who approves thereof. 

I am sending the British Prisoners from hence as fast as the 
cartels arrive; and the instant I am in possession of all the 
Lists and receipts of American Prisoners delivered or sent to 
America, I shall proceed to a general exchange. 

On my arrival here on the first of April, I was informed that 
a number of respectable British Subjects, principally mer- 
chants, whose affairs at the declaration of war by these states 
compelled them to remain here, and who continued in America 
after the six months leave given them by these States for their 
departure, had been ordered by this Government to remove 
from the Sea Port Towns, their former residences and reside 
on parole forty miles from Tide Water in the interior of the 
Country. Many of them were desirous to return to His Ma- 
jesty's Dominions and all the others to their former abodes. 
With respect to the latter I did not conceive myself entitled 
during the War to interfere, but with regard to the former, I 
applied to the American Commissary General of Prisoners, 
and required their delivery to me as Non-Combatants and for 
two Flags of Truce to carry them from these States. During 
the correspondence on this subject on an application by the 
American Commissary to the President for instructions, he di- 
rected him to cease any further communications with me on 
this subject and to inform me, he was of opinion my appoint- 
ment did not extend to this description of Persons : but that 
if I had anything to communicate on the subject, I must ad- 



332 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

dress myself to the Secretary of State, who would return me 
an answer. I therefore wrote him a letter whereof the en- 
closed document is a copy : to which I received his answer a 
copy whereof is also enclosed. 

You will perceive the Secretary of States refuses to consider 
them Prisoners of War, and that he hints at detaining them as 
fit Subjects to be hereafter used for retaliatory measures, 
should this Government think proper to resort to them ; and 
that he denies my authority to interfere. On reverting to 
your warrant of my appointment, I think you will agree with 
me, that words cannot be more appropriate to express my su- 
perintendance and care of these Gentlemen : but you will no- 
tice that in my letter to the Secretary of State, I do not press 
this point, but take a stronger and more extensive ground, to 
wit that every man deprived of his Liberty was a Prisoner. — 
My right to act in this instance being denied by this Govern- 
ment, I have returned Mr. Monroe, a general answer, inform- 
ing him I had submitted the correspondence to my Government 
for their consideration and directions, I shall therefore wait 
your orders. It remains with His Majesty's Government 
whether they will not treat the Citizens of the United States 
and in the united Kingdoms in a similar manner, and hold 
them Prisoners, to respond the treatment the British Subjects 
now here may receive from the United States. 

The President has thought proper for the present not to al- 
low me to come within less than two miles of the City of New 
York, it being considered a military Post. I am not otherwise 
restricted. This limitation will not be attended with incon- 
venience. 

I have made an exchange of the officers and men of the 
American Sloop Viper for the officers and men of His Majes- 
ty's late Sloop Peacock, and a few officers and men of other 
British Ships to make the exchange equal, but as the Peacock's 
men are not yet embarked, and causualties may occur, I do 
not send you the exchange by the present conveyance, as 
alterations may be necessary, which is provided for in the 
Receipts. 



AGENT FOR BRITISH PRISONERS 333 

TO THE TRANSPORT BOARD. 

Harlem, New York, 5th June 1813- 

Sirs. 

I have the Honor to inform you that I received from this 
Government repeated assurances that it will do all in its power, 
to prevent British Prisoners of War being received into the 
American Naval or Land Service. These declarations I have 
reasons to believe are sincere. I lament however to add, that 
the measures hitherto adopted have proved ineffectual ; and 
that His Majesty's Subjects, Prisoners, have since my arrival 
in these states, been taken into the American service : and 
that in the case of some men of His Majesty's late Sloop Pea- 
cock, I applied to Commodore Decatur but he did not think 
proper to restore them at my request, and although he did not 
defend the practice of receiving British Prisoners of War into 
the American Service in express terms : he did it equivocally 
by stating that similar conduct had been used towards Ameri- 
can Prisoners by the officers of His Majesty's Ship Africa. 

An unpleasant occurence has taken place with respect to an 
arrangement between General Mason and myself with the con- 
currence of Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren. The American 
Government had purchased the Brig Analostan as a National 
Cartel, laying at Washington, subsequent to the blockade of 
the Chesepeak ; and was desirous to send this Cartel to Ja- 
maica for American Prisoners, reported to be in a sickly state. 
I communicated this to Sir John B. Warren and requested his 
consent that the Cartel might leave the blockaded waters for 
the above purpose. In reply the Admiral informed me he 
would consent on Condition that this Government delivered 
on board one of His Majesty's ships in Lynnhaven Bay all the 
British Prisoners at Norfolk and in its vicinity, and he added 
that on this being agreed to upon the part of the United States 
he would instantly deliver from on board the Ships up the 
Chesepeak near 300 American Prisoners, on their parole. This 
was assented to on the part of this Government, and there is 
no disagreement between General Mason and myself on the 
Terms. 



334 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

Sir John Warren according to promise delivered 296 Ameri- 
can Prisoners at Annapolis and received the usual receipts 
which he transmitted to me. 

I was apprehensive that notwithstanding General Mason in- 
tended to execute the agreement with good faith, still that 
from want of energy in the Government, and from many other 
causes, the whole of the British Prisoners would not be sent 
by the American Cartel on board His Majesty's Ships of War 
in Lynnhaven Bay. As Sir John Borlase Warren was at that 
time some hundred miles from thence, I considered it my duty 
to inform the officer commanding H. M. Ships in Lynnhaven 
Bay to whom the British Prisoners were to be delivered, of 
the round number he was to receive and added, that I sub- 
mitted to his better Judgement, whether in the event of a 
defalcation in the number delivered, it would not be prudent 
to detain the Cartel. It appears that little more than 3 / 5 of 
the British Prisoners were delivered, and no reasons assigned 
for not delivering the remainder, the Cartel has in consequence 
been detained. 

Until I can induce this Government to compel more atten- 
tion to its orders and business gets into a regular Train, I beg 
leave to recommend, that American Prisoners may not be sent 
to these States until exchanged. There are other strong rea- 
sons for adopting this rule. I wish you would write to the 
several agents abroad to this effect, and direct them not to 
send Prisoners, unless ordered by your Board, or by Admiral 
Sir John Warren, or requested by myself. 

I have not been able to obtain an answer to my letter of the 
12th of April addressed to the American Commissary of Pris- 
oners on the various points contained in your instructions to 
me, and on which I can only procure the necessary information 
from him. I have repeatedly reminded him and requested his 
answer not only to that, but to most of my other Letters to 
him. General Mason holds several other public appointments, 
which probably occasions these delays. In the agreement 
which accompanies this you will observe the allowance of food 
or money per day to each Prisoner. The British Prisoners 
have been liberally fed hitherto by the United States, and the 



AGENT FOR BRITISH PRISONERS 335 

humane treatment of the Marshalls in each State towards 
them is universally acknowledged. 



TO THE TRANSPORT BOARD. 

New York 22nd June 1813. 
Sirs. 

After repeated applications to the American Commissary 
General of Prisoners, I have received his answer to my letter 
of the 12th of April respecting certain points on which by 
your instructions of the 1st of December last I was directed to 
request information from this Government and to report to 
you. 

You will perceive that the President has not thought proper 
to permit me to visit all the American Stations and Depots 
as often as I judge necessary ; on the contrary I am only to 
visit them on special occasions, having previously assigned my 
reasons and obtained his permission. Nor are the Sub- Agents, 
from the tenor of General Mason's letter, to have leave to visit 
any other Station or Depot except the one at or near which 
each of them respectively resides. I have noticed this in my 
reply of the 20th current to General Mason a copy whereof is 
also enclosed. His answer when received shall be transmitted 
to you. 

It is for you Sirs to determine whether it is necessary to re- 
strict in a similar manner the American Agents in England 
and other parts of His Majesty's Dominions. Distrust and 
jealousy mark the conduct of the members of the present 
American Administration. This is not without some reason. 
It is well known that from Pennsylvania North all the Gentle- 
men of respectability and property are opposed to them and to 
their measures, and that in every State, South of the Delaware 
there are many characters of equal property and respectability 
who entertain the same sentiments. They are therefore un- 
willing that His Majesty's Subjects, myself and the sub-agents, 
in particular, should have an opportunity of communicating 
with Gentlemen so essentially differing in Sentiment with 



336 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

them. In addition to which they are apprehensive a more 
liberal indulgence to British Agents would give offence to 
their Friends and Supporters. 



TO LORD CASTLEREAGH. 1 

(Private.) 

New York, 

Sept. 30, 1813. 
My Lord, 

The continued success of the American Ships of War in ac- 
tions with those of His Majesty, added to the inequality in the 
numbers killed and wounded on board the American if we 
compare with them the numbers lost on board the British 
ships, and the generally trivial injury to the bodies and rigging 
of the former, contrasted with the damage received by the lat- 
ter, are events respecting which your Lordship will natu- 
rally be desirous of a solution. A residence of 14 years in the 
United States has afforded me an opportunity for information 
and I hope your Lordship will not consider it impertinent to 
offer you my sentiments on so important a subject. 

I shall divide it under three heads. The ships, officers and 
men, and discipline. The American ships of War are not only 
much larger than those of His Majesty of the same class, but 
the materials contain more cubic feet and inches, hence they 
are less liable to injury from shot, and impenetrable to grape : 
When therefore ships of the same class come in contact, the 
American has the advantage. 

In sailing if there is a difference, it is in favour of the Amer- 
ican ships. They are brave and aspiring, able seamen, and 
manoeuvre a few ships admirably. With respect to the War- 
rant and Petty officers and men on board the ships of the re- 
spective nations, the superiority is greatly in favour of the 
United States. 

In the American Navy at least one half are British Seamen. 
The remainder are subjects of Sweden, Denmark, Prussia, &c, 

1 This letter was sent in cipher. 



AGENT FOR BRITISH PRISONERS 337 

&c, and a few Americans. From the great influx of seamen, 
the commanders of American Ships of War have had it in their 
power to select young well-made prime seamen. Those who 
are subjects of His Majesty fight with desperation, most of 
them being deserters. Thus manned the American officer has 
an evident superiority over the British Commander, whose 
crew are the reverse of select, and by far the greater propor- 
tion not able seamen. It is a lamentable truth that our sea- 
men are tired and dissatisfied with their success, and long 
confinement on board ship in consequence of 20 years' war, 
and I fear capture by the Americans is not disagreeable to 
many of them. 

I forbear touching on the present discipline of H. M. Navy. 
That it is not what it was, I appeal to every officer of experi- 
ence. The mutiny in the Fleet and other causes may have 
rendered some relaxation necessary : whether it has not been 
carried too far merits enquiry. 

The discipline which formerly prevailed in our Navy is now 
practised in the American service on British seamen with 
good effect. 

The seamen in the American service are practised for 
hours at the great guns, small arms, & in sham boarding, and 
as the complement of men is 4 more than in our service, an 
additional number of men are appointed to serve as marines 
in the tops : also there are howitzers with men appointed to 
them. From these, with the musketry in the tops, and the 
quarter-deck well manned with marines, a destructive fire is 
kept up during an action. From the before remarks, your 
Lordship will perceive that in every particular officers ex- 
cepted, the American ship has the advantage over the British. 
It is an abuse of words to call the crews of the U. S. Ships 
American. They are British crews commanded by American 
officers. 

The complement of men on board our largest frigates does 
not exceed 350, while the American frigates carry 500 ; of 
these, 250 are superlatively able and strong British Seamen. 
I sincerely believe the 250 British on Board an American ship 
are an equal to 350 of the men who ordinarily compose our 



338 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

ship's company. It follows that with the addition of 250 men 
on board the American ship, many of whom are equal to the 
British, victory must attend the former. 

I have omitted to inform your Lordship that the guns on 
board the American ships are elevated or depressed by a scale 
on the screw and on the coign. When therefore the proper 
elevation is ascertained, in consequence of the shot from any 
particular gun having struck the enemy, an order is issued 
and all the other guns are graduated accordingly. 

What I have submitted to yr. Lp. is in perfect confidence. I 
beg my name may not be mentioned. 



FROM GENERAL MASON. 

Office of Commissary General of Prisoners 
Washington Oct. 5th, 1813. 
Sir. 

It is intended to give answers in this letter to the letters 
accumulated from you during the late short absence, I made 
from the seat of Government, to which I have not already re- 
plied, and about which I find you are beginning to complain. 

I did not fail to remark your frequent complaints, on the 
same subject, last summer : I am not conscious that I have at 
any time permitted a communication of yours to remain unan- 
swered, more than a few days, an early reply to which, was a 
matter of any consequence to either Government ; it is very 
true that I often did delay answers to those of the very numer- 
ous letters, which you were constantly in the habit of addres- 
sing to me, that were considered of minor importance, from 
the necessity of making them occasionally yield to the more 
essential avocations, which the various duties of this office 
daily produce; and such, Sir, must inevitably be the case, 
while it is attempted to conduct all the business of your Gov- 
ernment, in connection with this office, with which you are 
entrusted, at the distance, at which we are placed, through the 
medium of correspondence only. During the six months that 
you, and I have now been in official intercourse, you have al- 



AGENT FOR BRITISH PRISONERS 339 

ready addressed me about one hundred and twenty-five public 
letters, not unfrequently two, or three, on a day the subjects 
of many of which might have been settled, by a personal in- 
terview in a few moments ; nor is this all ; it has several times 
happened and it must often happen again, that while with 
every possible promptness in answering letters, it requires at 
least one week to communicate by mail a business of impor- 
tance to the two nations, demanding despatch, must stand, un- 
till a discussion takes place by letter, that will produce, per- 
haps, the interchange of several communications. It was ap- 
prehended, when your request, at the time of your reception- 
that your Residence should be taken near New York, was as, 
sented to, that inconvenience would be experienced from the 
remoteness, at which you would be located from the Seat of 
Government ; from a desire that you should be accommodated, 
in your personal arrangements, I made myself no objection to 
it ; but uow that experience has proved to me that it is impos- 
sible to conduct the Intercourse relative to Prisoners, with 
proper advantage to either Government (and more particu- 
larly as the war advances, and that intercourse will necessarily 
become more complex) at the distance, at which their agents 
are now placed from each other, I have considered it incum- 
bent on me to apprise you of my conviction on this point, and 
to recommend it to your serious consideration. 

I have &c 

J. Mason. 



FROM THE TRANSPORT BOARD. 

Transport Office, 

6th November 1813. 
Sir. 

In reference to our letter of the 18th of August last, in an- 
swer to yours of the 20th of May, relative to the Cartel Agree- 
ment entered into by yourself and General Mason, for the 
Exchange of Prisoners of War, we now transmit, for your In- 
formation and Guidance, the Copies of an Order of the Right 



340 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

Honorable the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, dated 
the 30th of September and of its Inclosure from Colonel Bun- 
bury, signifying the Opinion of the Earl Bathurst, on the sev- 
eral Articles of the said Cartel Agreement, and desiring that 
the same might be ratified with the Alterations suggested by 
His Lordship, in consequence of our Observations thereon, a 
Copy of which you will also receive herewith and we direct 
you to propose such alterations to the American Government. 
For your further Information, we enclose a Draft of a Cartel 
which you are to propose in lieu of the one transmitted by 
you, and we desire that in any discussion which may take 
place on the several Points therein, you will conduct yourself 
in conformity to the Suggestions contained in Colonel Bun- 
bmy's letter abovementioned. 

You will observe that, in the Draft above referred to no 
Mention has been made of the Ration, as no Alteration can be 
made in the Rations at present allowed to American Prisoners 
of War either in this country or on Foreign Stations, of which a 
Statement was contained in our Letter of the 1st December 1812. 
With respect to the subsistence of Parole Prisoners, we ac- 
quaint you that the Allowance to American Prisoners in this 
Country has been augmented to Two Shillings Per Diem for 
Commissioned Officers, and One Shilling and Six Pence per 
Diem for all inferior Parole Prisoners, the Allowance to those 
on Foreign Stations to remain as at present. 

You will also observe, that in the Names of Places at which 
American Prisoners are to be stationed for Exchange, Liver- 
pool and Falmouth have been omitted, there being no means 
of accommodating Prisoners of War at those Places ; and we 
consider that the Insertion of them in the Cartel Agreement 
entered into by you arose from a misapprehension of our Let- 
ter of the 5th January last, wherein we acquainted you that 
Liverpool and Falmouth were Ports appointed for the Recep- 
tion of American Cartels. 

We are &c 

Rup* George 
J. Bo WEN 
Jno. Harness. 



AGENT FOR BRITISH PRISONERS 341 

FROM MR. MONROE. 

Department of State, 
Dec r 28, 1813. 
Sir, 

For reasons which every day become more evident, the Pres- 
ident has determined that you should reside near the seat of 
government. 

You will be pleased, as soon after the reception of this let- 
ter as your convenience will permit, to take your residence at 
Bladensburg, in the vicinity of this city. A passport to travel 
thither is sent you. 

Such regulations will be made, as to your visits to the office 
of the Commissary General, or other places, required by your 
functions, as are observed towards our agents in the country 
of the enemy. 

I remain &c 

Jas. Monroe. 



TO MR. MONROE. 

Harlem, New York, 4 th Jan? 1814. 

(Private.) 
Sir, 

I beg leave to inform you the order of the President com- 
municated to me in your official letter of the 28 th was not un- 
expected, General Mason having more than once mentioned to 
me that my residence at this distance from the seat of Gov* 
was inconvenient to him, as he was obliged to devote a greater 
part of his time to writing, than his other duties would permit, 
and that by my removal, this inconvenience would be reme- 
died, as most of our communications would be verbal. 

If Gen 1 Mason's conclusions were correct, I would readily 
have concurred with his original proposal — the contrary is 
the fact, at least as it respects myself. I should hold myself 
guilty of extreme negligence in conducting the business of the 



342 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

office I hold by verbal communications liable to different con- 
structions, mistakes and want of memory. — Wherever I re- 
side, while I execute the Office I hold, I shall feel bound to 
make and receive all official propositions and suggestions in 
writing — Gen 1 Mason will therefore derive no additional con- 
venience from my residence at Bladensburg; and he was in 
full possession of my sentiments, that in the event of my be- 
ing ordered to or near Washington, I should apply to his 
Majesty's Ministers for leave to resign my appointment. From 
my official letter to you Sir of this day you will observe that I 
have done this. In April, I hope my Successor will arrive. 

Altho' I do not consider myself entitled to request your good 
Offices in my favor, still I trust you will have the goodness to 
state in the most respectful manner to the President, what I 
have stated to you and to aid my request with your personal 
interest that I may be permitted to remain in my present sit- 
uation until a Successor arrives. 



FROM MR. MONROE. 

Department of State, 
February 2, 1814. 
Sir, 

In answer to your solicitation, under date of the 4th ultimo, 
for a postponement of your removal from the place of your 
present residence, respecting which the President's determina- 
tion was communicated to you from this Department on the 
28th of December last, I have to state to you, that Bladens- 
burg is a post town, affording an opportunity of daily com- 
munication with other parts of the United States ; and that 
you will be thereby enabled as promptly to fulfil the appro- 
priate duties of your agency for prisoners in that situation, as 
if you were to remain in the vicinity of the City of New York. 
The President has always been disposed to grant the most lib- 
eral indulgences that the conduct of individuals and the cir- 
cumstances of the war would justify ; but the British Govern- 
ment cannot reasonably expect for its agents in this country, a 



AGENT FOR BRITISH PRISONERS 343 

greater latitude of personal convenience than that which those 
of the United States enjoy in the dominions of Great Britain. 
The rigor exercised towards the American Agents for prison- 
ers at Quebec and Halifax, in particular, requires a corre- 
sponding treatment of British Agents by this government. I 
am, therefore, constrained to renew to you the request con- 
tained in my letter of the 28th of December, and to refer you 
to the passport which accompanied it. 

I remain &c. 

Jas. Monroe. 



TO THE TRANSPORT BOARD. 

Harlem, 13"' February 1814. 

Sirs, 

In December last I received a letter from Mr. Monroe, the 
American Secretary of State, acquainting me that the Presi- 
dent had determined for reasons which every day became 
more evident, that I should reside near the Seat of Govern- 
ment; and that as soon as my convenience would permit it 
was directed by the President that I should remove to a place 
called Bladensburg within nine miles of the City of Washing- 
ton. In my answer, I informed Mr. Monroe I should obey the 
order of the President, but that my removal to Bladensburgh 
would place it wholly out of my power to do my duty to the 
British Prisoners of War, and that under this conviction, I 
should write to you Gentlemen and request you to accept of 
my resignation, and to send out a percon to succeed me in Of- 
fice and I submitted for the consideration of the President, 
whether under the circumstance of my having requested you 
to send out a Gentleman to succeed me in office, he might not 
leave me in my present situation, where I could execute the 
duties of my office for a period not exceeding five months, 
within which period, my successor would arrive. 1 

1 The letter to Monroe which is Transport Board on January 5, brief- 
here abstracted is the official letter ly, on the subject, 
of January 4. Barclay wrote to the 



344 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

On the 3 rd of this month I received Mr. Monroe's reply in 
which the original order of the President for my removal 
was repeated, and he informed me that the restrictions im- 
posed on Mr. Mitchell the American Agent for Prisoners at 
Halifax Nova Scotia, and Col. Gardner the American Agent at 
Quebec, were in the number of reasons which had induced the 
President to order my removal. 

I request you will be pleased to appoint an Agent to suc- 
ceed me in the Office I hold under you, and that he may be 
sent to America with all convenient dispatch. I cannot think 
of holding an Office when I am placed in a situation which 
will prevent my performing the duties assigned me. 

Should the negotiations to be carried on at Gottenburg be- 
tween Great Britain and the United States promise a peace, I 
have no objection to continue in Office until the result is 
known ; but should they be broken off and the war continued, 
I entreat you will be pleased to supersede me. 1 

FROM THE TRANSPORT BOARD. 

Transport Office 
9 ,b June 1814. 
Sir. 

We have received your letters of the 13 th and 18 th of Febru- 
ary last, and having communicated the same to the Lords 
Commissioners of the Admiralty we have received their Lord- 
ships directions to appoint Mr. Gilbert Robertson to succeed 
you as Agent for Prisoners of War in the United States of 
America — you will accordingly deliver up to Mr. Gilbert 
Robertson on his arrival, all the Public Papers in your pos- 
session belonging to this Department, and transmit your final 
Accounts to this Office, with as little delay as possible. 

We are &c 

Rupt. W. George 

J. Douglass 

A. Boyle. 

1 These were the negotiations proposed to be undertaken under the 
mediation of Russia. 



AGENT FOR BRITISH PRISONERS 345 

FROM GENERAL MASON. 

Office of Commissary General of Prisoners. 
Washington August 19, 1814. 
Sir. 

At the time it was determined that your residence should be 
nearer the Seat of Government than that at Harlem in the 
State of New York, for the purpose of giving facility and ex- 
pedition to the Communications in which you are engaged 
with the Government, Bladensburg was named because of its 
immediate vicinity. 

In the present state of the war, considerations present them- 
selves which will readily occur to you, to make that place or 
any other in the neighborhood of our waters occupied or 
which may probably be occupied by the hostile forces, no 
longer a proper residence for an Agent of the Enemy. Troops 
have already arrived, and a camp as you will have observed, is 
forming at Bladensburg. 

Under these circumstances, I am instructed by the Secretary 
of State to inform you it has been determined that you take 
your residence at a place in the interior more remote from the 
waters ; that Hagerstown in Maryland has been fixed on for 
that purpose ; and that in consequence of the menacing move- 
ments of the enemy, you are requested to remove with the 
least possible delay from Bladensburg to that place, for which 
end I have the honor to enclose a Passport. 

I have &c 

J. Mason. 



TO GENERAL MASON. 

Hagers Town Washington County Maryland 

Sept- 2nd 1814. 
Sir. 

Mr. Barton on his arrival here the day before yesterday, 
laid before me your Letter of the 28th of last month in which 
you express your astonishment that he still remained in Bla- 



346 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

densburg, and acquainted him that you were instructed to re- 
quire him to leave that place for Hagers Town within two 
hours after the receipt of your Letter. 

On Monday the 22nd of August I had the Honor to receive 
your Letter of the 19th of that month containing an order for 
my immediate removal from Bladensburg to this place, in con- 
sequence of which I sent Mr. Barton on the 22nd of August to 
acquaint you, and to request you would supply me with car- 
riages for the removal of myself and office papers; at the 
same time I did all in my power to procure a conveyance for 
my office papers and baggage and a carriage for Mr. Barton 
and myself, my inquiries were continued Tuesday and Wed- 
nesday morning, but without effect. At 10 o'clock on Wednes- 
day the 24 inst. a small Coachee was sent by Mr. Gantt of 
your office with directions for my immediately leaving Bla- 
densburg. The vehicle was too small to take even a part of 
my office papers, in order therefore to comply as far as lay in 
my power with the directions of your Government, I stepped 
into the Coachee with a small trunk. and left Bladensburg at 
11 o'clock for this place, leaving Mr. Barton in charge of the 
papers and baggage, with directions to follow me as soon as 
possible. You must be sensible, Sir, of the importance of the 
papers belonging to my office, and I cannot entertain an Idea, 
that it was the intention of this Government or yourself, that 
they should have been left at Bladensburg without either Mr. 
Barton or myself to protect them. Such however has been 
the case from your positive injunction to Mr. Barton. It could 
not, or ought not, to have escaped the notice of this Govern- 
ment and yourself that at the time I was ordered to leave Bla- 
densburg to the day Mr. Barton was compelled to remove 
from thence, every Waggon, cart and other carriage were 
either impressed into the military service of the United States 
or hired by Individuals removing from Washington and 
George Town, consequently compelling Mr. Barton and my- 
self to leave Bladensburg, was reducing us to the necessity of 
abandoning the public documents belonging to my office; un- 
der these circumstances, permit me to say, it became your 
duty to have provided a mode for conveying the office papers, 



AGENT FOR BRITISH PRISONERS 347 

when myself, and Mr. Barton afterwards were compelled to 
leave Bladensburg. I feel it my duty to add that I protest 
against my having been obliged to remove without my papers, 
and in still stronger Terms, that Mr. Barton, who I had left 
in charge of them, was forced to leave them, unprotected, in 
compliance with your mandatory injunction of the 28 ulto. I 
regret that Mr. Barton obeyed your order, at the risque of the 
loss of the papers ; and would rather at this moment he was 
placed in confinement for disobedience of orders, than to have 
deserted his charge, to obey those orders. During the late 
long war on the Continent of Europe, or in any preceding 
Wars, I suspect no instance occurred where a public civil offi- 
cer of one of the Nations at war, recognized as such by the 
other nation and residing within its jurisdiction, was com- 
pelled to remove from one place to another, without his official 
papers, or being permitted to leave his Secretary or Clerk to 
take charge of them. Should an accident occur to the papers, 
His Majesty will have just cause of complaint against this 
Government. 

If the office papers do not arrive in a day or two, I shall 
feel it my duty at all hazard to send Mr. Barton with a Wag- 
gon or cart from hence for them, as it would be imprudent to 
entrust them to a Servant or common carrier. 



FROM GENERAL MASON. 

Office of Commissary General of Prisoners. 
Washington August 31st 1814. 

Sir, 

I am in possession, by the honourable conduct of a Gentle- 
man whose character you have greatly mistaken, of a letter 
addressed by you on the 21st instant to Admiral Sir Alexander 
Cochrane, and which you attempted to convey under seal (se- 
creted in the foot of a stocking) contrary to an arrangement 
made with you on principles of reciprocity, and against the in- 
junctions of this Government, as admitted by you in your 
note of the same date, to the Gentleman you expected to have 
made the bearer of that letter. 



348 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

These have been submitted to the Secretary of State, as 
have been the facts, that although notified from this Office 
of his requisition that you should leave Bladensburg, so that 
your retiring would have taken place at least three days before 
the approach of the Enemy, you did not leave it by as many hours 
before a battle was fought on the spot ; and that your Secre- 
tary remained not only in a situation to communicate person- 
ally with the Officers of the Army of the Enemy, but continued 
there several days after, and until a peremptory order ad- 
dressed to himself, was sent for his removal. 

I am instructed to state to you that this course of conduct, 
so incompatible with your obvious duty, and more especially 
with the confidence belonging to your station makes it neces- 
sary to declare that all correspondence with you on the part of 
the Government is to cease ; and that as an alien enemy you 
are required to remain for the present at Hagerstown. 

I have &c 

J. Mason. 



TO GENERAL MASON. 

Hagers Town, Maryland 5th Septr. 1814. 
Sir. 

Your letter of the 31st of August, informing me you was in- 
structed to state that all correspondence with me was to cease 
on the part of this Government, I have had the Honor to 
receive. 

It appears that three exceptions to my conduct are sug- 
gested as the cause of the above mentioned determination. 
With respect to the first, the intercepted Note from me to Vice 
Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, found on the person of Mr. 
Edward Calvert, I have only to remark that the purport of the 
letter was perfectly innocent, and related only to the release of 
his overseer and a domestic made Prisoners by a detachment 
of His Majesty's Naval Forces in the Patuxent. It is true I 
did recommend Mr. Calvert to conceal the Letter, not from an 
unwillingness that it should be examined, but to prevent delay 
in his application, and from an apprehension the Prisoners 



AGENT FOR BRITISH PRISONERS 349 

would in a day or two be sent to Halifax. It is with surprise 
I now learn, this act of mine, which was intended to accommo- 
date a citizen of these States, is considered exceptionable by 
your Government. 

With regard to the two other exceptions, I beg leave to re- 
fer you to my Letter of the 2d Instant, which I trust contains 
a full answer ; in which I consider myself, with just cause, the 
person aggrieved. 

In consequence of the determination of this Government, I 
now enclose a Letter to Mr. Monroe the Secretary of State, re- 
questing him to furnish me with usual Passports for myself, 
Clerk, and Family. Be pleased to deliver it, and obtain an 
answer as early as convenient. 

FROM GENERAL MASON. 

Office of Commissary General of Prisoners. 
Washington Sept r 16 1814. 
Sir 

I have received your letters of the 2 d , 5 th and 12 th of Septem- 
ber. The letter for the Secretary of State covered by yours of 
the 5 th Sepf, has been sent to him, accompanied by such a state- 
ment from this office, as the case required. 

I am instructed by the Secretary of State to inform you, that 
a Cartel Ship owned by Mr. Astor of New York, is now adver- 
tised by the permission of the Government, to go to Europe ; 
that she will land passengers in the British Channel ; that she 
will sail from New York in fifteen days from this time, and 
that if you think proper to avail yourself of this opportunity 
to return to England, passports will be sent you for yourself 
and family to embark from Amboy in Jersey, and to go on 
board Ship in the outer harbour of New York, and an Officer 
will be sent to accompany you from Hagerstown to Amboy ; 
that on account of the military works now prosecuting at 
Harlem, permission cannot be granted you to go to that place, 
nor can any excursions from Hagerstown be permitted, previ- 
ous to your departure from that place for embarkation ; that 
Mr. Barton, your Secretary, will be permitted to remain there 



350 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

for the present, in charge of your papers, and may correspond, 
through this Office, with your Sub-agents, and when he shall 
require it, if no reasons, personal to him, in the mean time 
occur against it, he will have a passport, and permission to 
return to England. 

I have etc. 

J. Mason. 

FROM GENERAL MASON. 

Office of Commissary General of Prisonei's. 
Washington Sept r 23 rd 1814. 
Sir 

This letter will be handed you by Col? Gardner, the Officer 
who has been designated to accompany you, in a route pre- 
scribed to him, to Amboy in Jersey, and to remain with you 
until your embarkation. Your passport will be sent to you, 
to meet you at Amboy. You will be pleased to name, to me, 
the persons of your Family, whom you wish to embark with 
you, and to be inserted in your passport. 

I am instructed to inform you, that it is expected you will 
come under an engagement, to this Government, not to leave 
the ship, in which you will sail, until you arrive on the coast 
of England ; that you will not be the Bearer of any letters or 
packets, which have not been submitted for examination, and 
that while Col Gardner is with you, all letters which you may 
write, or receive, except those to, or from, your family, shall 
be inspected by him. 

As the information to you may be useful to the service of 
your Government, in the disposition of your Official Papers, I 
am authorized to inform you, that if the Mr. Robertson, whom 
you mention in your letter of the 5 th of Sepf to the Secretary of 
State, as having been appointed your successor, is the Mr. Gil- 
bert Robertson, lately residing in the State of New York, he 
will not be received or permitted to land. It must be pre- 
sumed, if this is the person, that the British Government was 
not apprized of his conduct here, and of the circumstances, 
under which he left the Country. 

I shall notify this determination to Admiral Cochrane, and 



AGENT FOR BRITISH PRISONERS 351 

inform him, that if he is disposed to send an Agent for Pris- 
oners to reside here, until his government has an opportunity 
of making a more permanent appointment, he shall be received 
and respected. 

I have etc. 

J. Mason. 



TO GENERAL MASON. 

Hagers Town Maryland 26 lh Sept r . 1814. 

Sir 

Your letter of the 23 rd Instant was delivered to me last even- 
ing by Col. Gardner, who will acquaint you of the delay he has 
experienced on the road by which my departure will be delayed 
three days. I shall certainly not leave the Ship on which I de- 
part from the Port of New York until my arrival in England, 
unless by some accident she become unsafe. I do not think I 
shall be the Bearer of any letter, but should I take charge of 
some, I will lay them before Col. Gardner for his inspection. 
Mr. Gilbert Robertson who is appointed to succeed me, is the 
Gentleman who lately resided in these States ; and who un- 
questionably had a right to leave them, he not being under any 
parole or other promise to the contrary. I have to request you 
will be pleased to transmit the enclosed letter to Vice Admiral 
The Honorable Sir Alexander Cochrane ; and you will oblige 
me by acquainting him, with the determination of your Gov- 
ernment, whether it will receive Mr. George Barton as Agent 
for Prisoners, ad interim, should the Admiral wish to appoint 
him. — 

At the foot hereof are the names of my family to be included 
in the passport. 

Mrs. Barclay. 
Miss Barclay. 
Mr. Anthony Barclay. 
John McDonald, Servant. 

Mrs. Barclay's Maid Servant, name not known, as she is en- 
deavoring to procure one who is accustomed to the Sea. 



352 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

TO VICE-ADMIRAL SIR ALEXANDER COCHRANE. 

Hagers Town Maryland 26 th September 1814. 
Sir, 

I have the Honor to enclose herewith the copy of a letter re- 
ceived from the American Commissary General of Prisoners 
of War, from which you will perceive that it is the determina- 
tion of this Government, on the arrival of Mr. Gilbert Robert- 
son, off any of the American Ports [not] to permit him to land, 
or to accredit him, as His Majesty's Agent for the Relief of 
British Subjects detained in the United States and for carry- 
ing of exchanges of prisoners. That if you are disposed to 
send an Agent for Prisoners to reside in these States, until 
His Majesty's Government has an opportunity of making a 
more permanent appointment, he will be received and respected. 

I beg leave to acquaint you, that I leave Mr. George Barton, 
my Clerk, here to settle the present Quarterly accounts to the 
30 of this month. Mr. Barton was to have followed me to 
England the moment this business was completed : if however 
he can be of service, he will remain in these States, until an 
Agent is sent out by the Commissioners of Transports, but no 
longer. I mention this, that you may avail yourself of his 
services in the event of your wishing to appoint an Agent and 
being at a loss for a character competent to the Duties. Mr. 
Barton has been in my office upwards of a year, and is thor- 
oughly acquainted with the routine of Business. He is a Gen- 
tleman of most respectable Connections in England and in my 
opinion every way trust worthy. You will be pleased to recollect 
that Mr. Barton has no wish to be appointed ; but will act to ac- 
commodate the Service until a successor arrives. His allow- 
ances will of course be similar to those I have received. Be 
pleased to acquaint him with your determination, and should 
you desire him to act, as my Successor, it will be proper to 
send him a commission or warrant for the purpose. I leave 
this to-morrow for Perth Amboy (there being no conveyance 
this day) and shall immediately embark on board the American 
Ship Fingal for England. 



CHAPTER VIII 
THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 

The third article of the Treaty of Ghent provided 
that all prisoners of war taken on either side, as 
well by land as by sea, should be restored as soon as 
practicable after the ratification of the treaty ; and that 
each of the two contracting parties should discharge in 
specie the advances made by the other for the suste- 
nance and maintenance of such prisoners. The making 
up and verification of the accounts under this article 
no doubt proved a troublesome business, and Barclay, 
who was now in London at No. 12 Tavistock Square, 
and later at 64 South Molton Street, must have had 
abundant occupation in consequence all through the 
famous cold winter of 1815. 

But more important duties were to be devolved upon 
him under the succeeding articles, which related to the 
ever vexatious question of the Canadian boundary. 
The commission under Jay's treaty had done no more 
than fix the starting-point ; and, except the line of the 
River St. Croix, not another foot of the boundary had 
been ascertained in the thirty-one years which had 
elapsed since the treaty of 1783. Eufus King in 1803 
had indeed succeeded in negotiating a convention 
which defined the boundary through the several islands 
of Passamaquoddy Bay, and provided for the appoint- 
ment of a commission to run the remainder of the line ; 



354 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

but the convention failed of ratification, owing to a 
doubt as to the effect the purchase of Louisiana might 
have upon the boundary near its western end. 1 

Monroe and Pinkney in 1807 had also labored to ad- 
just the terms of a boundary convention, which was to 
follow closely King's treaty of 1803 ; but this business 
was broken off by the fall of the Whig government af- 
ter Mr. Fox's death, and the accession of the Duke of 
Portland's administration. 2 

From the very beginning of the negotiations at 
Ghent, the settlement of the boundary question had 
been kept in view. The British commissioners had 
tried, in the earlier stages of the discussion, to obtain 
something more than a mere tracing of the lines laid 
down in the treaty of 1783, and to gain some accession 
of territory. They desired, especially, to "revise" the 
frontier so as to secure a direct communication between 
Quebec and Halifax. 3 This demand was, however, 
withdrawn, and the negotiation proceeded on the basis 
of the status quo ante helium. On November 10, 1814, 
the American commissioners presented the draft of a 
treaty in which five articles were devoted to a plan for 
the complete ascertainment of the boundary from East- 
port to the Lake of the Woods, which lies in the 
western half of the present State of Minnesota ; and 
with comparatively trifling modifications their draft of 
these five articles was adopted. 

A single question relating to the boundaries was a 
cause of much hesitation and difficulty. The British 
had seized Eastport during the war, and they declined 

1 Amer. State Papers, For. ReL, 3 Note of British commissioners, 
Vol. II, pp. 584-591. August 19, 1814 ; Amer. State Papers, 

'<* Amer. State Papers, For. Eel., For. Eel., Vol. Ill, p. 710. 
Vol. Ill, pp. 162-165. 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 355 

to restore Moose Island, on which it stands — although 
their title was in dispute. It was finally agreed that 
both parties should at once restore all territory taken 
during the war, except the islands in the Bay of Pas- 
samaquoddy; but that the retention of these islands 
by the British should not affect the rights of either 
party. 

In the treaty as actually signed, Articles IV., V., 
VI., VII., and VIII. related to the boundaries. By the 
fourth article two commissioners were to be appointed — 
one by each nation — to decide upon the title to Grand 
Menan and the islands of Passamaquoddy Bay; 
and, in case of a disagreement, the question was to be 
referred to the decision of some friendly sovereign. 
By the fifth article a similar board was to determine 
the line from the source of the St. Croix round the 
northern frontiers of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, 
and New- York to the point where the boundary reached 
the St. Lawrence. A third board was to be appointed 
under the sixth article to ascertain the boundary west- 
ward from the point where the commissioners under 
the fifth article left it, up the St. Lawrence, through 
the Thousand Islands, through Lake Ontario, the Ni- 
agara River, Lake Erie, the Detroit River, the Lake 
and River of St. Clair, and so through Lake Huron 
and on to the Sault Ste. Marie. And finally, by the 
seventh article, the same commissioners were further 
to trace the line through Lake Superior and on to 
the Lake of the Woods. The eighth article prescribed 
general regulations affecting all the boards of com- 
missioners. 

The British Government selected its representatives 
without much delay. Thomas Barclay was appointed 
His Majesty's Commissioner under the fourth and fifth 



356 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

articles; John Ogilvy, of Montreal, was appointed 
Commissioner under Articles VI. and VII. 1 

Barclay's appointment was announced to him by 
Lord Castlereagh June 25, 1815, while London streets 
were still echoing to the shouts that greeted the news 
from Waterloo. To Barclay himself the tidings of that 
momentous event had brought mingled emotions. His 
own son had passed unhurt through the varying for- 
tunes of the day; but his sister's son, Sir William 
Howe De Lancey, Wellington's chief of staff, had fallen, 
mortally wounded, at the commander's side. 2 

Three weeks later Barclay sailed once more for Amer- 
ica, landing at Boston. He reached New- York Au- 
gust 29, 1815, and at once resumed the duties of the 
Consul-General's office, pending the arrival of his new 
commission. That instrument bears date September 4, 
1815, although, for some quite unaccountable reason, it 
did not reach New- York till eleven months later. 

In the mean time, the President of the United States 
had appointed the American commissioners — John 
Holmes, of Maine, 3 under the fourth article ; Cornelius 

1 Mr. Ogilvy fell a victim to the Thou saw'st in seas of gore expire 

dangers incident to his employment. Redoubted Picton's soul of fire - 

He died at Amherstburgh, nearDe- »e Lancey change Love's bridal wreath 

& ' For laurels from the hand of Death, 
troit, on September 28, 1819, of a 

bilious fever contracted among the An account of De Lancey's death, 

marshes of the St. Clair. He was in the Duke's own words, will be 

succeeded as Commissioner under found in Samuel Rogers's Recollec- 

the sixth and seventh articles by tions. 

Anthony Barclay, Thomas Barclay's 3 John Holmes was born at Kings- 
youngest son. ton, Mass., in March, 1773; gradu- 
2 Seo Ropes's Waterloo Campaign, ated at Brown University in 1796; 
De Lancey had married Captain Ba- was admitted to the bar in 1799 ; 
sil Hall's sister only two months be- and settled at Alfred, the county 
fore — and hence the allusion in Sir town of York County, Maine. He 
Walter Scott's didl lines on The was a member of the Massachusetts 
Field of Waterloo : Legislature for some years, and was 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 357 

P. Van Ness, of Vermont, 1 under the fifth article ; and 
Peter B. Porter, of New- York, 2 under the sixth and 
seventh articles. 

Barclay's commission had no sooner arrived than he 
set about the business with which he was intrusted. 
The American commissioners under the fourth and 
fifth articles were notified, and meetings were held at 
St. Andrews, New Brunswick, the place specified in the 
treaty, on September 23, 1816. 

Affairs under the fourth article progressed rapidly. 
The sole question, as we have seen, related to the title 
to the Island of Grand Menan and the islands in the 
Bay of Passamaquoddy — all of which lie far to the 
southward of the mouth of the River St. Croix. 

Coming from the westward, every vessel bound up 
the Bay of Fundy follows along the picturesque coast 
of Maine and passes through the deep and secure chan- 
nel of which Grand Menan forms the eastern and south- 
ern side. The bold and rugged cliffs of the island ex- 
tend for twenty-two miles opposite the American shore, 



elected to Congress, as we shall see, mont, and was subsequently Col- 
in 1817. When Maine was admitted lector of the Port of Burlington, 
as a State, in 1820, he was elected to Chief Justice of Vermont, Governor 
the U. S. Senate, and served ob- of that State, U. S. Minister to Spain 
scurely until 1833. He was after- under both of Jackson's administra- 
ward XJ. S. District-Attorney, and tions, and Collector of the Port of 
died in 1843. An extended sketch New-York under Tyler. He died in 
of his life will be found in Willis's Philadelphia December 15, 1852. 
"Law, the Courts, and Lawyers in 2 Peter Buel Porter was the foun- 
Maine." der of the well-known family who 
1 Cornelius Peter Van Ness was owned so much of the land about 
born at Kinderhook, N. Y., January Niagara Falls. He was a native of 
26, 1782, and was only thirty-four Connecticut, was for two terms a 
yearsoldwhenappointedontheboun- member of Congress, and served 
darycommission. Hewasapersistent with some credit in the War of 1812. 
office-holder. He had been already He was active in promoting the Erie 
U. S. District-Attorney for Ver- Canal, and died in 1844. 
23* 



of rh,«.ftama<|uoddy Bay 

s/ram, achail \J r urvey . 







THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 359 

terminating in a lofty headland just in front of that 
difficult entrance into Passamaquoddy Bay which is 
known as the West Passage, or Lubec Narrows. The 
southern shore of this entrance is formed by the main- 
land ; the northern shore by the romantic island of 
Campobello — now chiefly known as the site of a couple 
of summer hotels. Across the pretty bay lies Eastport, 
famous for its fisheries; and further north are Deer 
Island and the smaller rocky islets of Passamaquoddy. 
By their position and means of communication with 
the mainland, these islands are all naturally within the 
territory of the United States ; but the controversy in 
1816 did not at all relate to what ought to be their own- 
ership. The dispute was the purely legal one whether 
these islands, or auy of them, came within the excep- 
tion mentioned in the second article of the treaty of 
1783. By that article all islands along the coast, south 
of the River St. Croix, were to belong to the United 
States, " excepting such islands as now are, or heretofore 
have been, within the limits of the said province of Nova 
Scotia." The inquiry turned, therefore, upon a histor- 
ical examination of the ancient charters of Nova Scotia 
and Massachusetts Bay ; and upon this point interest- 
ing arguments were submitted to the Commissioners 
by the respective agents. Ward Chipman — who had 
served in a similar capacity in 1796 — appeared on the 
British side ; James T. Austin on the American. 1 The 
board met at Boston in June, 1817, to hear argument, 
and adjourned until September to allow the prepara- 
tion of replies. A long debate ensued, but on October 

1 James T. Austin was born in was Attorney-General of Massachu- 

Boston January 7, 1784 ; married a setts from 1832 to 1843 ; and died 

daughter of Elbridge Gerry ; became May 8, 1870. 
a leader of the Massachusetts Bar ; 



360 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

9th a final conclusion was reached, under which Deer 
Island, Campobello, and Grand Menan were awarded 
to Great Britain, and Moose Island (Eastport) and two 
smaller islands to the United States. The formal 
award, engrossed on parchment, was executed at New- 
York on November 24, 1817. 

Far less satisfactory was the fate of the inquiry under 
the fifth article of the Treaty of Ghent. The boundary 
had been defined in the treaty of 1783 as running due 
north from the source of the St. Croix to the northwest 
angle of Nova Scotia, at " the highlands which divide 
those rivers that empty themselves into the River St. 
Lawrence, from those which fall into the Atlantic 
Ocean " ; thence along the " highlands " to the " north- 
westernmost head of the Connecticut River"; thence 
down that river to the forty-fifth parallel of latitude ; 
and thence due west to the St. Lawrence, and so up 
the St. Lawrence and through the lakes. 

From the very first Barclay doubted whether it would 
be possible to come to any agreement as to the two im- 
portant points, — the northwest angle of Nova Scotia 
and the head of the Connecticut, — although the British 
Foreign Office, in cheerful ignorance of all the facts, re- 
garded it as a " mere operation of survey." Barclay 
was right. The question remained unsettled for twenty- 
seven years, and when it was finally compromised by 
the Webster-Ashburton Treaty, in 1842, the conduct 
of each of the negotiators was vehemently denounced 
by his own countrymen as a surrender. 

Barclay not only knew the facts of the case, so far as 
anybody knew them in that day, but he was also deeply 
conscious of the delicate position in which he was 
placed. He was a native of New- York, he had married 
his wife in New- York, his family had their home there, 



West of . 7 Greenwich e\s 




Y. 



^ C TL 



A Northwest angle of "Nova Scotia, as 

contended for by the United States. 
B MrthwestaTigle of J/bva, Scotia as 

contended fbrby Great Britain-. 
C JHbrthwestern most head ofConnecticutRiver 

as contended-forbyGreat Britain. 
D Jforthwesternmost head of Connecticut R 

as contended fbrby the United States. 





THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 361 

his sons were New- York merchants, his daughters had 
married Livingstons and Stuyvesants, and he was a 
cousin of half the people in the place. Nova Scotia 
and Canada were sensitive on the subject, and if Lord 
Ashburton was attacked and discredited because he had 
married an American wife, we may guess what sort of 
a storm would have been raised if Barclay had yielded 
to American demands. Far more stubbornly, proba- 
bly, than any native Englishman, Barclay stood firm 
for the extremest British claims. 

The Commissioners met for the first time at St. An- 
drews on September 23, 1816, and obviously no more 
could then be done than to appoint surveyors to explore 
the unknown wilderness about the head waters of the 
St. John, the Restigouche, the Penobscot, the Kenne- 
bec and the Connecticut. The summer of 1817 passed 
in preliminary exploration, which was followed the next 
season by more detailed surveys, and as the season 
of 1818 drew to an end, the facts of the case in their 
general outlines became perfectly and unmistakably 
clear. 

The north line, as it runs from the monument at the 
source of the St. Croix, dips down into the broad basin 
drained by the River St. John, whose waters empty 
into the Bay of Fundy. The country is rough and 
hilly, and at Mars Hill, about forty miles from the mon- 
ument, the line reaches its highest elevation. Not quite 
forty miles further on the River St. John is crossed, 
and then the line rises to the ridge dividing the waters 
of the St. John and the Restigouche, the latter a stream 
emptying into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Crossing the 
basin of the Restigouche the line finally — at a distance 
of 143 miles from the St. Croix monument — reaches 
waters flowing into the River St. Lawrence. 



362 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

Now the treaty of 1783 required the line to end at 
" Highlands," dividing rivers running into the River 
St. Lawrence from rivers " which fall into the Atlantic 
Ocean." Did "Highlands" mean mountains? If it 
did, there was nothing to answer that description north 
of Mars Hill. Did it mean merely a watershed, — a 
dividing ridge? If so, there was the choice between 
two such ridges, — that between the St. John and the 
Restigouche, and that between the Restigouche and 
the St. Lawrence. But the St. John fell into the Bay 
of Fundy, and the Restigouche into the Gulf of St. 
Lawrence ; and the British representatives contended 
that neither of these could be held to be rivers " which 
fall into the Atlantic Ocean," within the meaning of 
the treaty. Their argument was precisely that used 
by Mr. Blaine in 1890, when he urged that the Bering 
Sea was not included in the terms of a treaty which re- 
lated to the Pacific Ocean. The American reply antici- 
pated Lord Salisbury's retorts and illustrations. The 
Bay of Fundy and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, it was 
said, were just as much a part of the Atlantic Ocean as 
the Bay of Biscay ; and they were much more clearly a 
part of the ocean than Long Island Sound, into which 
flowed the Connecticut River, — a stream conceded on 
all hands to be one of those which were wholly within 
the territory of the United States. 

But the Americans drew a stronger argument from a 
historical examination of the circumstances attending 
the framing of the treaty of 1783. The purpose of that 
treaty, they contended, was unmistakable. Its purpose 
was to confirm to the United States all of the territory 
of the thirteen colonies, and to leave to Great Britain 
the whole of Canada and Nova Scotia. If this were 
admitted, the rest followed at once ; for the southern 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 363 

boundary of Canada had been fixed by a royal procla- 
mation of October 7, 1763, — just after the conquest 
from the French, — as a line " crossing the river St. 
Lawrence and Lake Champlain in forty five degrees of 
North latitude," and then passing "along the High- 
lands which divide the rivers that empty themselves 
into the said Eiver St. Lawrence from those which fall 
into the sea, and also along the north of the coast of the 
Bay des Chaleurs," etc. The treaty of 1783 only varied 
the language by substituting the Atlantic ocean for 
the sea. If this was not meant to vary the meaning 
(and there was no evidence of any purpose to enlarge 
the boundaries of Canada), then it was plain that the 
head waters of both the St. John and the Restigouche 
must be within American soil, and that the north line 
must run its 143 miles up to a point almost within 
sight of the St. Lawrence. 

For a quarter of a century the debate dragged on 
with much wearisome iteration, and without any more 
satisfactory conclusion than that the treaty of 1783 
was "inexplicable and impracticable." The contro- 
versy has long since been compromised, and looking 
back at it now, free from the passion and prejudice 
which it aroused while still unsettled, one sees no 
difficulty either in explaining or enforcing the treaty. 
The British Government in 1763 had deliberately in- 
tended to include in Canada only the basin of the St. 
Lawrence, to which the French population was con- 
fined. The confirmation of existing bounds, which was 
the simple principle underlying the whole of the treaty 
of 1783, plainly required the same line to be run. How 
near that line might come to the St. Lawrence was not 
known to any of the negotiators, and it can hardly have 
been a circumstance which they took into account. No 



364 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

one to-day can doubt that in this dispute the United 
States had right on their side. 1 

The controversy about the north westernmost head 
of the Connecticut River was of minor importance. It 
turned upon surveys of several rivulets, any one of 
which might perhaps fairly be looked upon as furnish- 
ing the important source. 

A third point arose, most fortunately for British in- 
terests, based this time upon perfectly indisputable 
facts. The line of 45° north latitude had been run, 
about 1766, from the St. Lawrence to the Connecticut, 
and the monuments then set up had always been looked 
upon as fixing the unquestioned northern boundary of 
New- York and Vermont. Just where the line crossed 
Lake Champlain lay Rouse's Point, and there the Grov- 
ernment of the United States had gone to great expense 
in fortifying what was considered in that day a most val- 
uable strategic position. It was worth a whole wilder- 
ness of pine timber, and no one had ever doubted that 
it lay within the limits of the United States. The fact 
was, however, — and it was first ascertained in 1818, — 
that the line run in 1766 was grievously in error, and 
every stone in the fortifications was really upon British 
soil. 2 Nor was this all; for the old line, diverging as it 
ran eastward from the true parallel of latitude, added 
to New- York and Vermont some hundred thousand 
acres which, under the plain words of the treaty, be- 
longed, without a doubt, to Canada. 

And so, at the beginning of 1819, the northeastern 
boundary question stood thus : The line had been run 

1 See " The Boundaries Formerly ceded, so far as the northwest angle 

in Dispute," by Sir Francis Hincks of Nova Scotia is concerned. 

(Montreal, 1885), wherein the justice 2 See map in Winsor's Narrative 

of the American claim is fully con- and Critical History, Vol. VII. 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 365 

from the Atlantic Ocean through the islands of Passa- 
maquoddy Bay to the mouth of the St. Croix, and up 
the St. Croix to its source. The north line had been so 
far surveyed as to show that at least an argument might 
be made to reduce the American claims in that quar- 
ter. The northwestern source of the Connecticut River 
was in doubt. And the old and long-recognized line 
west of the Connecticut had been shown to be grossly 
incorrect. 

The years that had elapsed since the close of the War 
of 1812 had wrought many changes in Barclay's family. 
His youngest daughter, Ann, had married Mr. W. B. 
Parsons, a retired officer of the Royal Navy, — a mar- 
riage not approved by her parents, but which, nev- 
ertheless, turned out well. Of the sons, Henry and 
Anthony had also married. George at the beginning 
of 1819 was in England, where he had recently married 

— having gone there with the purpose of establishing 
himself in business. Mrs. Livingston, the eldest daugh- 
ter, had died. The house at Harlem had been sold, and 
Barclay and his wife, with Mrs. Livingston's children, 

— now the only members of their household, — had 
again taken up their residence in New- York; this time 
at No. 386 Greenwich Street, which was thenceforward 
to be their home. 



FROM LORD CASTLEREAGH. 

Foreign Office, Sept. 4 th , 1815. 
SIR: 

His Royal Highness The Prince Regent having been graci- 
ously pleased to name you to act as His Majesty's Commissioner 
for the purposes specified in the 4 th and 5 th Articles of the Treaty 
of Peace and Amity concluded at Ghent on the 24 th December 



3GG CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

last, with the United States of America, I herewith transmit 
to you His Majesty's Commission under the Great Seal ap- 
pointing you to that office. 

You will lose no time in proceding to St. Andrews in Nova 
Scotia where the Commissioners of both Parties are "by the 
said Treaty appointed to meet. 

On your arrival there you will be joined by Mr. Chipman 
who has received orders to accompany you in the capacity of 
Agent on the part of His Majesty's Government. M. la Bou- 
chette 1 will accompany you as Surveyor of the boundaries 
which it is intended to define and establish by the Commission 
entrusted to you. 

In case the Commissioner who is to act with you on the part 
of the American Government should not have proceeded to his 
destination, His Majesty's Charge d' Affaires at Washington 
will be instructed to press his departure, so that no time may 
be lost in the execution of your respective Duties. 

Your commission embraces Two distinct Objects the Nature 
of which the enclosed copy of the 4 th and 5 th Articles of the 
Treaty will demonstrate as well as the mode in which the 
Questions at issue are to be finally arranged between you and 
the American Commission. 

With regard to the regulation of your conduct in bringing 
to a favorable issue the first question namely, whether the sev- 
eral Islands in the Bay of Passamaquoddy and in the Bay of 
Fundy belong of right to the United States or to Great Brit- 
ain ; it may be necessary that you keep in mind (altho' in de- 
ciding upon it you are solely to be led by the Evidence that 
will be adduced in favour of the Claims of other countries) 
that His Majesty's right to those Islands is supposed to be 
founded on the Second Article of the Treaty of Peace of 1783 
which excepted from the line of 20 leagues from the line of 
Coast, by which it was then agreed to fix that side of the 

1 The person intended was Joseph unsatisfactory as a Surveyor to the 

Bouchette, the Surveyor-General of Commission. He died in 1841, hav- 

Canada, who was at this time in Eng- ing published several valuable works 

land superintending tho publication on the topography and statistics of 

of one of his books. Ho proved most Canada. 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 



367 



Boundary of the United States, such Islands as now are or 
heretofore have been within the Limits of Nova Scotia. — And 
that the Islands in question did come within the Limits of that 
Province, will be proved not only from the Circumstance of 
the Jurisdiction which the Government of Nova Scotia always 
was in the habit of exercising over the Inhabitants up to the 
Peace of 1783, but more forcibly from the fact that the origi- 
nal Patent or Grant (an Extract of which I inclose) of the said 
Province made by King James the 5 th . to Sir William Alexan- 
der in 1621, after tracing the Boundaries of the United States 
[sic] in it's circumference proceeds to include in it all Islands 
&c, within Six Leagues of any part of that circumference. 1 



1 The original patent is in Latin. 
The important parts of it may be 
thus translated: "We have given, 
granted and conveyed and by the 
tenor of this our presentCharterwedo 
give, grant and convey, unto the said 
Sir William Alexander, his heirs or 
assigns whomsoever in inheritance, 
all and singular the lands, continents 
or islands situate and lying in Ameri- 
ca within the headland or promon- 
tory commonly called Cap de Sable, 
lying near the latitude of 43 degrees 
or thereabouts north of the equinoc- 
tial line; from which promontory 
stretching westwardly along the sea- 
shore to the harbor of Saint Mary, 
and thence toward the North by a 
straight line crossing the entrance 
or mouth of that great bay which 
runs into the Eastern tract of land 
between the countries of the Suri- 
quois and Etchemins to the river 
commonly called St. Croix; and to 
the most remote spring or source 
which from the western part of the 
same first mingles itself with the 
said river ; thence by an imaginary 
straight line which may be conceived 
to go through the land or to run to- 



ward the North to the nearest har- 
bor, river or spring emptying itself 
into the great river of Canada ; and 
from thence extending toward the 
East along the shores of the same 
river of Canada to the river, harbor, 
port or shore commonly called and 
known by the name of Gashepe or 
Gaspc ; and from thence toward the 
South East to the islands called Bac- 
calaos or Cap Breton, leaving those 
islands on the right, and the gulf of 
the said river of Canada or great bay, 
and the lands of Newfoundland with 
the islands to the said lands belong- 
ing, on the left ; and thence to the 
headland or promontory of Cap Bre- 
ton aforesaid, lying near the latitude 
of 45 degrees, or thereabouts ; and 
from the said promontory of Cap Bre- 
ton toward the South and West to the 
said Cap de Sable, where the peram- 
bulation began ; including and com- 
prehending within the aforesaid 
seashores and their circumferences 
from sea to sea, all lauds and conti- 
nents with the rivers, streams, bays, 
shores, islands or seas lying near or 
within six leagues of any part of the 
same on the Western, Northern or 



368 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

It cannot also have escaped your recollection that in the 
discussion in which you were engaged with the United States 
in 1796 and which terminated in your fixing the Mouth of the 
River St. Croix at Joes Point, the point now at issue was in 
some degree decided, a reference to the Proceedings of the 
Commissioners at that period will prove that the objection 
made to that decision on the part of the American Agent was 
that he [sic] conferred upon Great Britain the possession of the 
very Islands now under dispute, and he on that ground argued 
tho' ineffectually the impropriety of the decision itself. 

The Second object to which you are to direct your attention 
relates to the Boundary which is to be determined according 
to the 5 th Art. of the present Treaty, also in conformity to the 
Provisions of the Treaty of 1783. 

In a former commission with which you were charged, you 
determined one of the doubtful Points connected with this 
part of the Boundary now to be fixed, namely, which was the 
true River of St. Croix : so that your labours will now begin 
from the source of this River with a view of continuing and 
terminating the survey as therein detailed to the River Iroquois 
or Cataraguy. 

This being a mere operation of Survey, it will not be neces- 
sary to give you any specific Instructions for the regulation of 
your Conduct on this head. It will therefore only remain in 
general to enjoin you to use the utmost diligence in the dis- 
charge of the important Trust now committed to your Care, 

Eastern parts of the said shores and tire and free dominion and barony 
precincts. . . . Moreover we of our to be called in all future time by the 
certain knowledge, mere motion, re- aforesaid name, Nova Scotia. . . . 
gal authority and royal power, have And even if any questions or doubts 
made, united, annexed, created and touching the interpretation or con- 
incorporated ; and by the tenor of struction of any clause in this our 
this our present charter we do make, present Charter should arise, all such 
unite, annex, erect, create and in- are to be taken and interpreted in 
corporate the whole and entire Prov- the most ample form and in favor of 
ince and lands of Nova Scotia afore- the said Sir William Alexander and 
said with all their limits, seas, &c, his heirs." 

offices and jurisdictions and all A line drawn from the mouth of 

other things generally and particu- St. Mary's Bay to the mouth of the 

larly above mentioned, into one en- St. Croix just touches Grand Menan. 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 369 

as well as the nicest and most minute accuracy in fixing and 
determining the Lines of the said Boundaries, so that no room 
may remain for any doubts in future on that Matter. 

You will keep me regularly informed of the progress of the 
Commission with which you are charged as well as of any oc- 
currences which may come within your knowledge and which 
it may be material that His Majesty's Government should have 
cognizance and you will not fail to communicate with His Ma- 
jesty's Minister at Washington on any Matters that may be 
for the good of His Majesty's Service. 

I am &c. 

Castlereagh. 



FROM LORD CASTLEREAGH. 

Foreign Office Septr. 4, 1815. 
Sir, 

In consequence of your having received the appointment of 
which a communication has been made to you in my Instruc- 
tion No. 1 of this date, I am to inform you that it is His 
Royal Highness The Prince Regent's Pleasure that your ap- 
pointment as His Majesty's Consul General in the State of 
New York should cease on the Quarter ending the 5 th of July 
next : But that the same allowance be continued to you from 
that Period in your new capacity of His Majesty's Commis- 
sioner for the Execution of the 4 th and 5 th Articles of the Treaty 
of Ghent. 1 

In addition to your regular Allowances, you will be author- 
ized to draw upon this office for the actual expense of Journies 
to which you may be exposed by moving from Place to place 
in the Execution of your Functions taking care to transmit to 
this Office the proper Vouchers for such Expenditure. 

Should it however be understood between you and the Com- 
missioner on the part of America that such Expenses as well 
as all others attending the said Commission are to be defrayed 

1 The salary was at this time £1600 deductions than during the stress of 
a year ; and it appears to have been the Napoleonic wars, 
paid more regularly and with fewer 
24 



370 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

equally by the two Parties in pursuance of the Provision which 
is made in the 8 th Art. of the said Treaty you will conform to 
that arrangement. 

For the further regulation of your conduct on this subject, 
I herewith inclose a Copy of the receipt signed by Mr. Munroe 
on the exchange of the Ratifications of the Treaty of Ghent in 
which is inserted a declaration that the Principles which were 
observed in carrying into Execution the Treaty of 1794, are to 
be followed in this Instance. 

I am &c, 

Castlereagh. 



TO LOKD CASTLEREAGH. 

New York 10 th August 1816. 
My Lord, 

It was not before the 7 th of this mouth, by the June Packet 
from Falmouth that I had the Honor to receive your Lord- 
ships Letters Nos. 1 and 2 of the 4 th of September last inform- 
ing me that His Royal Highness The Prince Regent had been 
graciously pleased to name me to act as His Majesty's Commis- 
sionor for the purposes specified in the 4 th and 5 th Articles of 
the Treaty of Peace and Amity concluded at Ghent on the 24 th 
of December 1814 with the United States of America, and that 
your Lordship had by the same conveyance transmitted to me 
His Majesty's Commission under the Great Seal appointing 
me to that office. 

I beg leave respectfully to assure your Lordship that I am 
duly sensible of this further mark of His Majesty's most gra- 
cious condescencion and favor, and I intreat you will be pleased 
to lay my most humble acknowledgement at the Feet of His 
Royal Highness The Prince Regent for this gracious Testimony 
of His Royal Confidence. It shall be my study not to render 
myself unworthy of it. 

The instant I received your Lordships Letters and my Com- 
mission, I transmitted copies of your No. 1 and of the Com- 
mission to His Majestys Minister at Washington and requested 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 371 

him to communicate the purport thereof to the American 
Government, and to propose that a meeting should take place 
between the American Commissioner or Commissioners and 
myself at St. Andrews in New Brunswick on the 10 th of Sep- 
tember. This was as early a day as could with safety be 
named, under the circumstances of my being obliged to notify 
the American Government of my appointments, and for it to 
send directions for the American Commissioner to proceed 
without delay so as to meet me at St. Andrews on the 16 th of 
next month. I have in like manner requested Mr. Chipraan 
the Agent on the part of His Majesty to be at St. Andrews on 
that day. I have not yet heard of Mr. La Bouchette's arrival 
in America. His presence however is not indispensibly ne- 
cessary at the first meeting of the Commissioners. Your Lord- 
ships remarks with respect to the Islands in Passamaquoddy 
Bay and the Principles on which His Majesty's claim to those 
Islands is founded are in my opinion perfectly correct, and 
such as cannot be controverted. I am apprehensive it will be 
difficult for His Majestys Agent to support with equal evidence 
His Majesty's claim to the Island of Grand Manan in the Bay 
of Fundy, an island of far more national importance, than any 
of the others. On this point and on the 5 th Article of the 
Treaty I shall take the Liberty of communicating more fully 
with your Lordship. 



TO LORD CASTLEREAGH. 

New York 12th August 181G. 
My Lord, 

In my Letter No. 1 of the 10th Current, I stated, that I 
should do myself the Honor more fully to communicate with 
your Lordship on His Majesty's claim to the Island of Grand 
Manan, and on the 5th Article of the Treaty of Ghent. 

By the Treaty of Peace in 1783 between His Majesty and 
the United States of America all Islands that were at the time 
of that Treaty, or theretofore had been within the Limits of 
the Province of Nova Scotia were reserved to His Majesty. 



372 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

In order to support His Majestys claim to Grand Manan, the 
most valuable of these Islands it is necessary to ascertain 
and establish the most extensive westerly Bounds at any time 
heretofore prescribed to the Province of Nova Scotia. The 
Boundaries of this Province have from time to time been vari- 
ously described from the original Grant to Sir William Alex- 
ander to the year 1773. 

The Grant of the Province of Nova Scotia to Sir William 
Alexander in the year 1621 is the most ancient and contains 
the most formal Description of the Limits of Nova Scotia, and 
in point of authority is superior to any subsequent act of His 
Majesty or His Royal Predecessors in which the Limits of that 
Province are defined. 

In His Majestys Commission to Montague Wilmot Esqr as 
Governor of Nova Scotia the ancient Western limits of the 
Province of Nova Scotia are described, and it appears an alter- 
ation was then made with respect to the western Boundary 
Line, in the words following, "and to the Westward although 
our said Province hath anciently extended and doth of right 
extend as far as the River Pentagoet or Penobscot it shall be 
bounded by a line drawn from Cape Sable across the entrance 
of the Bay of Fundy to the mouth of the River St. Croix" &c, 
&c. I understand this alteration was made by His Majesty in 
council in the year 1763. The order I have not seen. It cannot 
be doubted, but that His Majesty in council at the period of al- 
tering the Western Bounds of Nova Scotia, had before him some 
legal documents by which the original Bounds of Nova Scotia, 
to which the order refers, had been established, to wit West- 
ward to the River Penobscot. What appears in the order of 
council however is merely by way of preamble. It is there- 
fore of moment that His Majestys Agent should if possible be 
possessed of the instrument by which the Western limits of 
Nova Scotia were, as is stated in the preamble originally estab- 
lished at and by the River Penobscot. Perhaps upon a search 
in the Council Books and papers or in the proper offices, some 
clue may be found which would lead to the discovery of this 
important document. As there is no trace of any Grant hav- 
ing been made by His Majesty or His Predecessors of the 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 373 

Island of Grand Manan other than that to Sir William Alex- 
ander, and which is constructive and in some measure defect- 
ive, it will be necessary to produce the next best evidence that 
Grand Manan heretofore was within the Province of Nova 
Scotia. This can be done by showing that the Governor and 
Council of that Province so far exercised a right over that 
Island as to grant a reservation of it to Lord William Camp- 
bell until His Majestys pleasure should be known, this reser- 
vation was made in the year 1773, and is an evident proof that 
the Government of Nova Scotia then considered it, as apper- 
taining to that Province. Unless therefore it is shown, that 
Massachusetts at that time or previously exercised a jurisdic- 
tion over or laid claim to this Island, the act of the Governor 
and Council, I humbly conceive must be considered as con- 
clusive. As the above reservation was made until His Majes- 
tys pleasure was known, it is to be presumed his Lordship 
petitioned His Majesty to grant him this Island, and that 
something was done upon the petition. If the petition and the 
minutes of what was ordered thereupon, can at this remote 
day be found, they would perhaps greatly strengthen the 
present claim. 

I have reason to believe it will be attempted to support the 
claim of the United States to Grand Manan and the Islands in 
the Bay of Passamaquoddy by the limits of Nova Scotia as de- 
scribed in His Majestys Commission to Lord William Camp- 
bell in 1766 and to Francis Legge Esqr. in 1773 as Governor 
of that Province. In the commission of the latter, the fol- 
lowing is a description of the Boundaries of Nova Scotia : 
" Bounded on the Westward by a Line drawn from Cape Sable 
across the entrance of the Bay of Fundy to the mouth of the 
River St. Croix, by the said River to its source and by a Line 
drawn due North from thence to the Southern Boundary of 
our colony of Quebec to the Northward by the same Boundary 
as far as the Western extremity of the Bay des Chaleurs to the 
Eastward by the said Bay and the Gulph of St. Lawrence to 
the Cape or Promontory called Breton in the Island of that 
name including that Island and all the other Islands within six 
leagues of the coast excepting our said Island of St. John 



374 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

which we have thought fit to erect into a separate Government 
and to the Southward by the Atlantic Ocean from the said 
Cape to Cape Sable aforesaid including the Islands of that 
name and all other Islands within forty leagues of the Coast." 
I have not seen an extract of the Commission to Lord William 
Campbell, but Mr. Chipman His Majesty's Agent writes me, 
the Boundaries described therein are the same with those in 
Sir Francis Legge's commission. From these commissions it 
would appear that the Islands within six leagues of the coast are 
confined to the coast on the Eastern side of the Province 
of Nova Scotia. The Commissions refer to Islands on the 
East and South sides of the Province, but are silent with re- 
spect to those on the West Side. I attribute this to inattention 
in those who framed the commissions. At that period it was 
not perhaps considered necessary to be critically particular in 
such descriptions in commissions to Governors, the Limits and 
appendages of the respective Provinces had been declared, but 
had never been surveyed and defined by actual measurement. 
His Majesty's Ministers could not have intended to take these 
Islands from the jurisdiction of Nova Scotia without either 
erecting them into a distinct colony, which would have been 
ridiculous, or annexing them to the, then, Province of Massa- 
chusetts. Neither of these was the case, it therefore follows 
that they remained part or parcel of Nova Scotia under the 
Grant to Sir William Alexander. Besides it required express 
words to take those Islands formerly declared to appertain to 
Nova Scotia, from it: and your Lordship will presently per- 
ceive that on a nearly similar occasion in contracting the 
Western Limits of Nova Scotia express words were used in 
the commission to Governor Wilmot. 

In the latter part of your No. 1 your Lordship is pleased to 
notice in reference to the 5th Article of the Treaty of Ghent, 
that this being a mere operation of survey, it will not be neces- 
sary to give me any specific instructions for the regulation of 
my conduct on this head. The running of a Line due North 
from the source of the River St. Croix is certainly a simple 
operation, but from all that I have been able to learn, it is very 
doubtful, whether Highlands, such as will satisfy, the second 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 375 

Article of the Treaty of Peace in 1783, and to which the Treaty 
of Ghent refers, will be found on running this line. I am not 
less apprehensive admitting that such Highlands correspond- 
ing with the Treaty are found, that a question of no small 
difficulty will arise with respect to which rivulet or little stream 
the appellation of the North Westermost Head of Connecticut 
River is most applicable. These difficulties removed, the re- 
mainder of the execution of the 5th Article would be plain and 
easy. I cannot however refrain expressing my fears to your 
Lordship that one or both of the above named points will prove 
insuperable to the Commissioners, and that recourse must be 
had by a referance, on the reports of the Commissioners, to 
some friendly Sovereign or State; or some amicable adjust- 
ment of the line take place between His Majesty and the 
United States. The latter, if practicable would unquestionably 
be most eligible. 



TO LORD CASTLEREAGH. 

New York 2 October 1816. 
My Lord. 

In my No. 1 of the 10th of August, I stated to your Lord- 
ship that I had requested Mr. Bagot His Majesty's Minister 
Plenipotentiary at Washington * to propose to the American 
Government that the American Commissioners under the 4 th 
and 5 th Articles of the Treaty of Ghent should be directed to 
meet me at St. Andrews on the 16th of September in order to 
proceed on the Duties expressed in our respective Commis- 
sions, and the proposition having met the concurrence of this 
Government, I proceeded from hence to Portland in the Dis- 

1 Charles Bagot was bom Septem- a remarkably handsome face ; per- 

ber 23, 1781; held the post of Brit- fectly well-bred, and of dignified and 

ish Minister in Washington from the gentlemanly deportment. . . . No 

spring of 1816 to the spring of 1819; English Minister has ever been so 

became Governor-General of Can- popular ; and the mediocrity of his 

ada ; and died there May 19, 1843. talents has been one of the principal 

"Bagot," wrote John Quincy Adams, causes of his success." Diary, Vol. 

" is tall, well proportioned, and with IV, p. 338. 



376 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

trict of Maine to meet Mr. Holmes the American Commis- 
sioner under the 4th and Mr. Van Ness the American Commis- 
sioner under the 5th Article of that Treaty, from whence we 
were to take passage for St. Andrews. Owing to adverse 
winds and calms we were delayed several Days at Portland, 
and it was not before the 22 d of September that we landed at 
St. Andrews, where Mr. Chipman His Majesty's Agent had 
been several days waiting our arrival. Mr. Austin the Amer- 
ican Agent came with the Commissioners. On the 23rd of 
September the commissions were opened and copies under 
both Articles interchanged. The Commissioners were also 
sworn agreeably to the Treaty. The Agents under the 4th 
Article were then called upon to exhibit their claims, and pro- 
duce their credentials. The American Agent delivered a for- 
mal commission from the President of the United States, but 
Mr. Chipman exhibited only a letter from Lord Bathurst His 
Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonial Depart- 
ment. The American commissioner objected to the Letter as 
insufficient, first because there was no official seal, and sec- 
ondly that His Lordship had not expressed his official charac- 
ter after his signature to the Letter. I endeavored to remove 
both these objections and so far succeeded as to obtain the 
consent of the American Commissioners to proceed to busi- 
ness, under a promise that Mr. Chipman should at the next 
meeting of the Board produce a more official appointment. 
Mr. Chipman will write Earl Bathurst on the Subject. On the 
24th of September the Agents delivered to the commissioners 
the claims of their respective Governments to the Islands in 
the Bay of Passamaquoddy and Bay of Fundy, copies of 
which I have the Honor to enclose. The Commissioners re- 
quested to know whether they were prepared to argue and 
prove their claims, and if not, when they would be. The 
Agents answered that they thought the 28th of May as early a 
day as could consistently be named for these purposes. The 
Commissioners acceded and adjourned from St. Andrews to 
meet at Boston in the State of Massachusetts on the 28th of 
May 1817. 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 377 

No Agent appeared on the part of the United States under 
the 5th Article of the Treaty of Ghent, nor Surveyor for either 
nation. By the words of the Treaty I should have considered 
the Commissioners authorized to appoint Surveyors but as 
your Lordship had signified to me that Earl Bathurst had ap- 
pointed Colonel Bouchette Surveyor on the part of His Maj- 
esty, I declined doing so, and represented to Mr. Van Ness, 
the American Commissioner, that Col. Bouchette was mo- 
mently expected from England as the British Surveyor. Mr. 
Van Ness was also equally convinced with myself that the 
Season was too far advanced for the Surveyors to commence 
any operations this Autumn. The best informed Inhabitants 
at St. Andrews and Robbins Town (the American side of the 
River St. Croix) agreed in opinion that the Surveyors could 
not commence their operations before the month of June next, 
owing to the Bodies of snow remaining in the Woods and the 
Brooks and other streams being overcharged with water. It 
was therefore agreed by the Commissioners under the 5 th Arti- 
cle to meet at Boston on the 4th of June, and to direct that the 
Surveyors attend them on that day, at that place. The Agents 
are to be directed to provide Chain Bearers, ax men, and per- 
sons to carry Provisions &c. &c. also to purchase the necessary 
provisions. The conveyance of Provisions will I fear be a 
matter of no small difficulty, increasing as the surveys recede 
from the Rivers St. Croix and St. John. I have received no 
information of Colonel Bouchette's arrival in America. Should 
he still remain in England, I beg leave to suggest to your Lord- 
ship the necessity of his being ordered to repair to Boston with- 
out delay, or rather to St. Johns, New Brunswick, so that he may 
confer with Mr. Chipman, and be made acquainted with the 
merits of the Question, previous to his attending the Commis- 
sioners on the 4th of June. The Surveyors are to receive pre- 
cise instructions from the Agents, and general Instructions 
from the Commissioners. 



378 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

FEOM MR. GOULBURN. 1 

Downing Street 

March 14th 1817. 

(Private & Confidential.) 
Dear Sir, 

By desire of Lord Batliurst I take this opportunity of ac- 
quainting you that in consequence of the representations 
which have been made both of the talents of the persons se- 
lected by the American Government to make the survey of the 
Boundary and of the incompetence of Mr. Bouchette to under- 
take an accurate astronomical survey His Lordship has en- 
tered into communication with Sir Jos. Banks 2 for the pur- 
pose of procuring the assistance of some Gentleman of great 
science and consequently more able to check the proceedings 
of the American Surveyors. He was in hopes that such a per- 
son would have been ready to proceed by the present packet 
but as this is unfortunately not the case I am desired to sug- 
gest to you the propriety of deferring if it be possible the as- 
tronomical part of the survey until time can be given for the 
arrival of such a Gentleman in America. The proceedings of 
the Commissioners need not be deferred on this account as the 
other parts of the survey may be proceeded in without waiting 
his arrival. 

I have &c. 

Henry Goulburn. 



to lord castlereagh. 

Boston, State of Massachusetts, 5 th June, 1817. 
My Lord. 

During the preceeding Winter I requested Mr. Chipman, His 
Majesty s Agent, who resides at St. John in the Province of 

1 Henry Goulburn was one of the burn's entire want of control over 
British Commissioners at Ghent, his temper, and the insulting man- 
where his manner and tone seem to ner of his speech. He was Under- 
have been particularly offensive to Secretary for the Colonies. 
the Americans. J. Q. Adams, in his 2 The President of the Royal So- 
diary, repeatedly refers to Goul- ciety. 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 379 

New Brunswick to meet me at this place on the 20 th of May, 
one week prior to the meeting of the Commissioners under 
the 4 th Article of the Treaty of Ghent, that I might examine 
the Arguments and evidence he had prepared to deliver to the 
Board in support of His Majesty s claim to the Islands in the 
Bays of Fundy and Passamaquoddy. A severe fit of the Gout 
prevented his arriving at the time appointed and subsequent 
to his recovery contrary winds detained him until the second 
instant. The succeeding day the Board proceeded to Business, 
and is now progressing with industry. The arguments on 
the part of both nations will I hope be read over by the 12 th 
current, that on the part of the United States is unnecessarily 
diffuse ; after which the Agents will require some time to pre- 
pare replies each to the others arguments, so that a short ad- 
journment will probably take place. Mr. Chipman has at my 
request introduced in his memorial the Arguments used by 
Comrs. Shirley and Milday in their negotiations at Paris in 
1750 and the extract of the council minutes in 1763, although 
he is of opinion, in which I concur, that the claim on the part 
of His Majesty, must and will eventually rest on the Grant to 
Sir Win. Alexander in 1621. I confess my principal induce- 
ment for incorporating in the present case, the Arguments 
used by the Commissioners at Paris in 1750, is founded more 
on the effect it may produce on the friendly Power to whom 
the case may be referred, in the event of the Commissioners 
not being able to agree in a decision, than on the Commission- 
ers in the first Instance. — I am satisfied that your Lordship is 
Master of the Subject and will not therefore trouble you sug- 
gesting my reasons on this point. 

On the 4 th of June the Commissioners under the 5 th Article 
of the Treaty met agreeably to adjournment in September ; 
and the Agents are preparing instructions for the Surveyors, 
who will leave this in a few days for the Source of the River 
St. Croix and commence running the due North Line and en- 
deavor to establish the North West Angle of Nova Scotia. It 
is proposed that an exploring party be sent forward to endea- 
vor to discover the Highlands, while the Surveyors are pro- 
ceeding under the more dillatory process of actual admeasure- 



380 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

merit. The American Commissioner was anxious that the 
ascertaining of the Boundaries should commence at the River 
Cataraqui on the parallel of the 45 Degree of North Latitude ; 
but having received directions from Earl Bathurst to delay as- 
tronomical observations until a Gentleman who he would send 
from England for that particular service arrived, I opposed his 
proposition and succeeded in limiting the operations to com- 
mence at the Source of the St. Croix where simple surveying 
alone be necessary. I fear the survey and entire observation 
will occupy much time, and I am not less apprehensive of 
great difficulty in establishing the real Highlands and North- 
westermost Source of the Connecticut River named in the 
Treaty. 

TO LORD CASTLEREAGH. 

New York 25 th June 1817. 
My Lord. 

Referring your Lordship to my No. 4 of the 5 th Current, I 
have the honor to acquaint you that after the Agents of both 
nations under the 4 th Article of the Treaty of Ghent had re- 
spectively read their agreements to the Commissioners and de- 
livered them to the Secretary His Majesty's Agent requested 
an adjournment of the Board to the 25 th of September, to en- 
able him to reply to the case made out by the Agent of the 
United States, in consequence of which the Commissioners on 
the 13 th Instant adjourned to meet at Boston on the 25 th of 
September to hear the Agents of both nations in reply each 
to the other. 

The Commissioners under the 5 th Article of that Treaty, un- 
der an impression that it would expedite the Business, have 
appointed two sets of Surveyors as suggested in my No. 4 to your 
Lordship, who were to leave Boston with their respective chain 
Bearers and ax men &c. &c on the 22 d Instant for the source 
of the River St. Croix, from whence they are to commence 
their operations. They are furnished with such instructions 
as the Commissioners and Agents considered necessary. On 
the 14 th instant the commissioners under this Article adjourned 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 381 

to the 5 th of May next to New York, unless an intervening 
meeting may be necessary, when the commissioners of either 
nation (by agreement) may name a day and place for such 
meeting. This I am led to think is improbable, as the Survey- 
ors will not have progressed so far as to render such meeting 
necessary, before winter will impede all Field operations, there 
being little more than four months in that part of America, 
wherein Surveyors can be employed. 



TO MR. OGILVY. 

New York 27 th June 1817. 
My dear Sir. 

By this morning's Post, I received a Packet of Letters from 
Boston, (which arrived there after I had left it) in which was 
your favor of the 10th instant. I will cheerfully give you my 
sentiments on the subject you have suggested, and beg you 
will at all times freely command my best services. General 
Porter is in part right in saying that it is customary with Am- 
bassadors, Ministers Plenipotentiary, Commissioners and all 
other official characters, while transacting business with Gen- 
tlemen of the same official Denomination belonging to other 
nations invariably to name their own King or Government 
first. For instance in official letters of any other official acts 
emanating from General Porter to you wherein he makes men- 
tion of both nations, it is due to his own to name it first. With 
respect to the Journal (which appears to be the object of the 
present difference of opinion between you and him) I am of 
opinion both you and he are under an error and that 
neither of you are to keep the Journal or a duplicate of it, but 
that the Journal is to remain with the Secretary who is the 
proper officer and in whose custody all papers filed are to re- 
main. There can be but one Journal. You may have as many 
copies as you please of it, but if any of them vary from the 
original Journal they must be corrected by it. It is usual 
with Commissioners to have the proceedings of the day entered 



382 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

on loose paper, and every day the last thing the Board does 
before adjournment is to make the Secretary read the proceed- 
ings to prevent omissions or mistakes, or correct the mode of 
expression. On the adjournment of the Board, the Secretary 
immediately enters the proceedings of the day in his Journal, 
verbatim from the loose minutes, and at the next meeting of 
the Board before they proceed to Business, one of the Com- 
missioners examines the Journal of the preceding day with the 
Secretary who reads aloud the proceedings from the minutes. 
If this mode is adhered to no mistake can be made. The Sec- 
retary should carefully file all these loose minutes. 

I come now to the main object stated in your Letter, to wit, 
the alternately or occasionally naming the United States of 
America before His Britannic Majesty in the Journal, for as I 
have before noticed there can be but one Journal. It will be 
best answered by two or three Questions and answers. Ques.? 
Under what authority did His Majesty and the President of the 
United States of America nominate you Gentlemen Commis- 
sioners. Answer. Under the Treaty of Peace and Amity 
concluded at Ghent the 24th of December 1814. Q. In the 
caption of that Treaty and throughout the whole of the Treaty, 
who is first named, His Britannic Majesty, or the United States 
of America. A. His Britannic Majesty without an exception. 
Q. If the Commissioners who drew up and concluded the 
Treaty of Ghent invariably named His Britannic Majesty, be- 
fore the United States of America, ought not the Commis- 
sioners who are now acting under the 6th and 7th Articles of 
that Treaty to adopt the same rule. A. Unquestionably. — 
Is it not customary to name the older first, especially when he 
stands as Parent. A. Certainly. — 

In the Journals of the Commissioners under the 4 and 5 
Articles of the Treaty of Ghent, His Majesty's Commissioner 
is always first named. It was so also under the Commission 
of 1796. It never became a Question, because the Language 
of the Treaty was adopted. 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 383 

TO THE COMMISSIONERS UNDER THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH 
ARTICLES OF THE TREATY OF GHENT. 

New York 14 July 1817. 

Sirs. 

I yesterday received a Letter from Mr. Orne, Secretary to 
the Commissioners under the 5 th Article of the Treaty con- 
eluded at Ghent in December 1814, between His Britannick 
Majesty aud the United States of America, enclosing- a copy 
of a resolution passed by your Board on the 3 d of June, on 
the subject of ascertaining the point at which the 45 degree 
of North Latitude, coutinued West from the Xorthwestermost 
head of the Connecticut river strikes the River Iroquois, or 
Cataraquy. That as the establishing this was an object equally 
the duty of the Commissioners under the 5 th Article of the 
Treaty, as well of you Gentlemen Commissioners under the 
6 tb & 7 th Articles, it was desirable that they cooperated with 
you in ascertaining and establishing the same ; and that you 
proposed " a joint meeting of the Boards with the Astrono- 
mers employed by them respectively should be held at or in 
the vicinity of S* Regis as early as it may suit the convenience 
of the Commissioners under the 5 th Article for the purpose of 
comparing the results of the several observations made under 
the direction of the respective Boards and awarding thereon"; 
also that you hoped the meeting, if acceded to might not be 
delayed beyond the month of September. 

I have the Honor to acquaint you that early in May, I re- 
ceived a Letter from His Majesty's Colonial Department of 
State dated the 14 th of March last informing me that a Gentle- 
man would without loss of time be sent to me from London to 
execute the Astronomical Parts of the Service enjoined by the 
5 th Article of the Treaty, and directing me to proceed in the 
meantime on the surveys which form another part of the service. 
In June therefore when the Board (under the 5 th Article) met 
at Boston, I communicated to Mr. Van Ness, my brother Com- 
missioner, the purport of the Letter, in consequence of which, 
we immediately detached the Surveyor to the Source of the 
River St. Croix with directions to commence and proceed in 



384 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

running the due North Line, and it was agreed by Mr. Van 
Ness and myself, that on the arrival of the Astronomer from 
London, he and the Astronomer on the part of the United 
States of America, should forthwith proceed to establish 
the Parallel of Latitude directed in the 5th Article of the 
Treaty. The Gentleman has not yet arrived, but is momently 
expected. 

I feel assured that Mr. Van Ness will, as well as myself, 
accept the polite proposal contained in your resolution of a 
joint co operation of the two boards in ascertaining a point 
necessary to be established under the 5th and 6 articles of the 
Treaty. — I shall by this days mail write him on the Subject 
and request him to communicate to you his determination. 
If he acceeds, which I take for granted he will, on the arrival 
of the Astronomer from England I will immediately proceed 
with him to St. Regis, there to meet you Gentlemen and Mr. 
Van Ness with the four Astronomers finally to establish the 
Point where the 45th degree of North Latitude extended from 
the North Westernmost head of Connecticut River intersects 
the River Cateraquy. — It is proper for me to add, that if the 
arrival of the astronomer, should be delayed beyond the 1st of 
September (an event by no means probable) it will not be in 
my power personally to attend, because the Board of Commis- 
sioners under the 4th Article of the Treaty are to meet at Bos- 
ton on the 25th of that month; but I will notwithstanding 
send on the astronomer to unite with Mr. Ellicott x in ascer- 
taining the parallel of Latitude, which will in all probability 
be confirmed by Mr. Van Ness and myself, particularly if it 
accords with the observations and results of the two Gentle- 
men now employed by you for the same purpose — It will nat- 
urally occur to you, that it will be prudent for Mr. Ellicott to 
remain in the vicinity of St. Regis, ready to commence the 
astronomical observations. 

1 Andrew Ellicott was born in the Federal City. In 1813 he was 

Pennsylvania in 1754. He was em- appointed Prof essor of Mathematics 

ployed as a surveyor by the U. S. at West Point, a post he held until 

Government on various occasions, his death in 1820. 
notably in the work of laying out 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 385 

TO MR. VAN NESS. 

New York 25 August 1817. 
Sir 

I have the Honor to acquaint you with the arrival of Dr. 
Tiarks His Majestys Astronomer under the 5th, 6th and 7th 
Articles of the Treaty of Ghent, at this place in the last Packet 
from England. 1 — Mr. Ellicott the Astronomer on the part of 
the United States is also at present in this City, who informs 
me that he has by his observations established the point where 
the parallel of the 45 Degree of Latitude strikes the River 
Cataraquy, 2 and that his duty at West Point at present pre- 
vents his attending Dr. Tiarks to St. Regis ; he adds that even 
was it in his power it would be unnecessary, because he is sat- 
isfied his observations and their results are correct, and that 
the Season is so far advanced, as to prevent Dr. Tiarks doing 
anything more until next Spring, than ascertaining whether 
the point established by him (Mr. Ellicott) at the River Cata- 
raquy is correct or not. 

Dr. Tiarks will proceed in the morning for St. Regis for 
this purpose ; should you differ in opinion with Mr. Ellicott, 
and prefer having an Astronomer to observe at the same time 
with Dr. Tiarks, to proceed to send him to St. Regis, perhaps 
you may wish to be there in person. It is not in my power to 
go thither, as the Commissioners under the 4th Article of the 
Treaty meet at Boston on the 25 of September. 

Mr. Ellicott also told me, that at the request of the Presi- 
dent, he should hold himself in readiness to establish and run 
the parallel of the 45 Degree of North Latitude as early in the 
Spring as the weather will permit. I beg leave to add that 
Dr. Tiarks will be ready to accompany him. 



1 This gentleman was a Swiss by missioners under the sixth article as 
birth. Little seems to be known of the starting-point of their part of 
him. He died about 1830. the line. See their award published 

2 The point thus established by in Treaties and Conventions of the 
Mr. Ellicott was adopted by the Com- United States. 

25 



386 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

TO LORD CASTLEREAGH. 

New York 2 d September 1817. 
My Lord, 

Your Lordships Letter of the 6th of June, announcing that 
I should shortly be joined by Dr. Tiarks, His Majesty astron- 
omer under the 5th and 6th Articles of the Treaty of Ghent, I 
have had the Honor to receive. — Dr. Tiarks has since arrived, 
and gone to St. Regis on that part of the River St. Lawrence 
designated under the Treaty of 1783, by the name of the Iro- 
quois or Cataracruy, in order to ascertain whether the parallel 
of the 45 Degree of North Latitude which strikes that River, 
as reported a few weeks since by the American Astronomer 
Mr. Ellicott is correct, who makes to correspond within two 
or three feet of Hollands parallel in 1768, or thereabout. I 
regret to add from Mr. Ellicott's information that this opera- 
tion will occupy the whole of the remainder of the season in 
that cold climate. As early in the Spring however as the 
weather will permit, I will take care to have the astronomers 
employed in establishing the parallel of Latitude towards the 
North Westermost head of the Connecticut River. The Sur- 
veyors are now engaged in running the due North Line, and 
searching for the Highlands from the Source of the River 
St. Croix. — I have every reason to hope the Arguments of 
the Agents appointed under the 4th Article of the Treaty of 
Ghent, will be closed at the meeting of the Commissioners at 
Boston on the 25th instant, and I am sanguine in my expecta- 
tion that the result will prove favorable to the claims of His 
Majesty. However, as it is possible I may be disappointed in 
my expectation, I shall be prepared, as far as anticipation will 
permit, with my report in the event of our disagreeing. The 
report I am fearful will be more than ordinarily long, as it 
will contain no small part of the arguments of the Agents, as 
well as my own remarks. 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 387 

TO MR. OGILVY. 

New York 22 October, 1817. 
My dear Sir, 

Your letter of the 22nd ult° and private letter of the same 
date from Rapid Plat Upper Canada, I had the pleasure to re- 
ceive while at Boston from whence I returned to this place 
yesterday. I was so much engaged while there during a short 
Session as not to have it in my power to reply to your favor, 
I therefore avail myself of the first moment on my return. 

It was certainly desirable that Dr. Tiarks should have 
brought out with him all the instruments necessary for the 
accurate observations committed to him by His Majestys Gov- 
ernment, indeed he did bring all with the exception of the Re- 
fracting Circle, and I should have detained him at this place 
until its arrival, had not Mr. Ellicott, the American Astron- 
omer told Dr. Tiarks that there was at St. Regis such an in- 
strument appertaining to the American Government, much at 
his Service, and that he would write to General Porter, (or 
some other Gentleman who had the charge of it, I do not re- 
call which) to allow Dr. Tiarks the use of it. I am happy to 
learn that General Porter has politely directed it to be deliv- 
ered to him, and hope before this he has completed his obser- 
vations at St. Regis. As he is engaged under the 5 Article, 
it is proper that all sums necessary for that Service and his 
expenses should be paid by me, his drafts therefore on me will 
be honored. If you have advanced him money, let him draw 
in your favor on me for it. 

Scientific men are generally absent in character, I was there- 
fore not surprised that Dr. Tiarks had forgotten he had a let- 
ter for you from me, nor that he had placed it, in so safe a 
place as to be out of sight. As matters have turned out, it 
was not material. He appears an amiable correct character: 
of his abilities I have no doubt, yet let me add I am not com- 
petent to decide. 

I have the pleasure to inform you that contrary to my ex- 
pectation, Mr. Holmes the American Commissioner and myself 
under the 4th Article of the Treaty of Ghent have come to a 



388 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

decision, an event I little expected. It is due to Mr. Holmes 
to add that throughout the whole of the Business committed 
to him and me, he has conducted himself with candor and 
Liberality, and although much argument has taken place be- 
tween him and me previous to our coming to a decision, it was 
conducted with courtesy, impartiality and perfect good hu- 
mour. The decision is executed on paper at present, for fear 
of accident by death or otherwise to him or me, but we meet 
here on the 24th of November to execute it when engrossed on 
parchment when it will be transmitted to both Governments, 
and duplicates delivered to the Agents. I may safely add that 
no commission of similar magnitude has been gone through 
and decided in so short a period and at so trifling an expense. 
The Agents of both Governments memorialed the Board to be 
further heard and for an adjournment to next Spring for them 
to prepare their Arguments by way of rejoinder. The Com- 
missioners declined acceeding to their request, under a convic- 
tion that they were fully possessed of the merits of the case 
submitted to them. An adjournment of the Board for six days 
took place, during which Mr. Holmes and myself conferred in 
private and eventually agreed upon a decision. In doing this 
some little has been yielded on both sides. This in my opin- 
ion was preferable to our reporting the Grounds of our differ- 
ing in opinion and by that means rendering a reference to 
some friendly Sovereign to decide necessary, whose decision 
in all probability would not have been as agreeable to both 
nations ; and a measure pregnant with delay and expense. 

On the opposite page is the copy of a letter from the foreign 
office, from which you will perceive Col. Bouchette is no 
longer to act as surveyor under the 6 th & 7 th Articles of the 
Treaty of Ghent. 

TO LORD CASTLEREAGH. 

New York 25 October 1817. 
My Lord. 

I have the Honor to inform your Lordship, that the Com- 
missioners appointed by virtue of the 4th Article of the Treaty 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 389 

of Ghent met at Boston in the State of Massachusetts, pursu- 
ant to adjournment, on the 25th of September last past, to hear 
the Agents of both Nations, each in reply to the others Argu- 
ments delivered to the Board at its Session in June last. On 
the first of October the agents concluded reading their Argu- 
ments and on the 2 d the Commissioners agreed to adjourn to 
the 8th of the same Month, under an impression that from 
the Evidence already exhibited by the Agents, they were fully 
possessed of the merits of the Question submitted to them, and 
for the purpose of attempting to come to a decision thereon. 

I had previously conferred with His Majestys Agent on this 
point ; who concurred in opinion with me, that a further hear- 
ing of the Agents by rejoinder, would be useless, and tend 
only to prolong the discussion and create expense. In addi- 
tion to this I was aware that if a decision was not made on or 
before the 1st of December ensuing, another Commissioner 
on the part of the United States must be appointed, as Mr. 
Holmes, the present Commissioner had been elected a member 
of Congress, and by the Constitution of these States, he would 
be obliged to resign his appointment as Commissioner prior to 
his taking his seat in the House of Representatives. In such 
an Event the case must have been reargued, and the proceed- 
ings necessarily drawn out to a greater length. I had also 
reason to believe, from the general tenor of Mr. Holmes' con- 
duct, that it was more than doubtful, whether another Com- 
missioner would possess that candor and Discrimination, I had 
in every instance experienced in this Gentleman. 

In the discussion which took place between the Commis- 
sioner on the part of the United States and myself, in the 
interval from the 2nd to the 9th of October, I endeavored to 
convince him, that by the express words used in the Grant of 
King James to Sir William Alexander in 1621, to wit, "in- 
cludens et comprehendens intra praedictas maris oras litto- 
rales ac earum circumferentias, a mari ad mare, omnes terras 
continentes cum fluminibus, torrentibus, sinibus, littoribus, 
insulis, aut maribus jacentibus prope aut infra sex leucas ad 
aliquam earundem partem ex occidentali, boreali, vel orientali 
partibus orarum littoralium et praecinctuum earundem" all the 



390 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

Islands in the Bay of Passamaquoddy and the Island of Grand 
Manan in the Bay of Fundy were included within the Limits 
of that Grant. For that although a line drawn from Cape St. 
Marys (one of the boundary Lines described in the Grant to 
Sir William Alexander) to the River St. Croix would not in- 
clude all the Islands within it ; still a parallel Line six leagues 
distant to the South "West would embrace them — and that the 
Words " sex leucas " referred to " earum circumf erentias " and 
" praecinctuum earundem," and not to "oras littorales" nor 
" orarum littoralium." — That the Line from St. Marys Bay to 
the River St. Croix was the " circumferentias " and the " prae- 
cinctuum " mentioned in the Grant, and that the " sex leucas " 
was to be extended from that Line and not from the Coasts or 
Shores of Nova Scotia. — To this the American Commissioner 
replied, that it was unnecessary for him and me to enter upon 
the construction given by me on the Words of the Grant, as 
the Crown had decided it repeatedly in the Commissions to the 
Governors of Nova Scotia, wherein the Limits of Nova Scotia 
were defined ; and he referred to the Commission to Montague 
Wilmot Esqr. in 1763, wherein all Islands on the North and 
East within six Leagues of the Coasts, are declared to be 
within the Limits of Nova Scotia, and to the Southward all 
Islands within forty leagues of the Coast, but that to the 
Westward no mention was made of Islands in the Commis- 
sion to Mr. Wilmot, nor in any other of the Commissions to 
the Governors of Nova Scotia ; if, therefore, he were to allow 
this as an accidental omission, I could not in justice require 
him to admit more than was given on the North and East, 
which would be all Islands within six leagues of the Western 
part of the Coast of Nova Scotia, and that this would comport 
with the Words of Sir William Alexanders Grant "infra 
sex leucas ad aliquam earundem partem ex occidentali, bore- 
al! vel orientali partibus " &c &c &c, — but that the six Leagues 
must be measured from the Shores and Coasts, and not from 
the circumferences of the Boundaries. — I suggested that the 
Commissions were generally penned in haste, by Clerks in the 
public offices, and intended merely as instructions to Gov- 
ernors, not as Acts which were to bind his Majesty on other 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 391 

points and the foreign Powers ; because, if Declarations con- 
tained in such Commissions could not bind foreign Powers, it 
was unreasonable, that the Power making such Declarations, 
and possibly with private views, confined to its own Subjects, 
should be bound thereby. In support of this Doctrine, I 
stated several cases, and in some measure brought the Ameri- 
can Commissioner to think there was not so much weight in 
his objection, as he originally imagined. I assured, and en- 
deavored to convince him, that from the Evidence before the 
Board, it was manifest, that all Islands in question were in- 
cluded in the Grant to Sir "William Alexander, and conse- 
quently appertained to His Majesty; and called on him to 
unite with me in decision to that effect. This he of course de- 
clined ; remarking that such a decision would deprive the 
United States of Moose Island and the two adjoining small 
Islands, named Dudley and Frederick, which had been de- 
cided to them by the Convention or Treaty in 1803 and by the 
Supplemental Treaty in 1807, neither of which it was true had 
been ratified on the part of the United States, but that they 
were evidence, that Great Britain either considered these Isl- 
ands to belong to the United States, or was willing to acknow- 
ledge them as such, provided the United States would relinquish 
claim to all the other Islands in the Bay of Passamaquoddy. 
He added that although he was determined not to execute a 
decision whereby all the Islands in question were to be ad- 
judged to belong to His Majesty, yet he was willing to come 
to a determination which should comport with the principles 
agreed upon by Earl Liverpool, then Lord Hawkesbury, and 
Mr. King in 1803, and by Lord Holland and Lord Auckland 
and Mr. Monroe and Mr. Pinkney in 1807. That if I would 
not consent to this, he was ready to report, jointly or sepa- 
rately, stating the points on which we differed, and the grounds 
on which our respective opinions had been formed, and to 
leave it to the two Governments to refer the report to some 
friendly Sovereign or State for decision, — which decision could 
not possibly be more adverse to the claims of the United States 
and might be more favorable, than that I had proposed. That 
where nothing more could be lost, and something might be 



392 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

gained, it was his duty to refer the question to the Tribunal 
pointed out by the Treaty in the event of the Commissioners 
not coming to a decision. In adjourning for that day (the 
5th of October) I communicated the substance of the confer- 
ences, which had taken place between the Commissioner on 
the part of the United States and myself, to His Majesty's 
Agent. His opinion coincided with mine in the following 
particulars. — That in the event of the report being referred 
to a friendly Sovereign, it would naturally be placed by him, 
in the hands of one of His Ministers, or Law officers, with di- 
rections to examine the reports, and to recommend the deci- 
sion which ought to be made. — That it was probable that 
either from want of time, or other cause, the attention neces- 
sary to form a correct opinion might not be given, or that the 
Arguments in the report might not be fully comprehended; 
and that such Sovereign being called upon by both nations, 
in the character of a Friend, would probably adopt the Terms 
agreed upon (though not ratified) by the two nations, in the 
Convention of 1803 and supplemental convention in 1807. 
That if this should be the Line pursued by such friendly 
Power, still it would remain a matter of doubt to whom it 
would decide the Island of Grand Manan to belong. — That 
this Island was of more value to His Majesty, in point of Ter- 
ritory, than all the Islands in the Bay of Passamaquoddy ; 
and in a military and naval Point of View of much greater 
importance. — That it commands the North West Side the 
Bay of Pundy, is immediately opposite that part of the Ameri- 
can Coast, where the waters which pass into and out of the 
Bay of Passamaquoddy at a place called West-quoddy passage 
and — that His Majesty by being possessed of this Island, 
would have it in his power, in the event of a War, to prevent 
American Privateers from sheltering themselves in that Pas- 
sage and to protect the Province of New Brunswick and that 
part of Nova Scotia which lies in the Bay of Fundy — That 
unless the six leagues should be measured from the line de- 
scribed in the Grant to Sir William Alexander, from St. Marys 
Bay to the River St. Croix, this Island would not be compre- 
hended within the Limits of Nova Scotia, but only a small 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 393 

part of it, — and that the friendly power might possibly decide 
in favor of the United States, or that the small portion of it 
belonged to His Majesty, and the remainder to those States — 
that either event would be extremely prejudicial to His Ma- 
jesty's Interest — that in the number of unpleasant conse- 
quences which would attend a reference to a friendly Sovereign 
or State, independantly of the uncertainty of the decision, are the 
time it would occupy, and the expense attending such an appeal. 
His Majestys Agent further agreed with me, that Moose 
Island is of no moment to His Majesty. It had never been 
granted by him to any of his Subjects: on the contrary the 
State of Massachusetts had granted it to citizens of the 
United States — admitting that the friendly Sovereign should 
decide, that this Island did belong to His Majesty, the present 
Possessors would, on taking the Oaths of Allegiance, be con- 
firmed in their titles to the Lands they held, while their senti- 
ments would probably remain favorable to the Interests of the 
United States, and from their having access to His Majestys 
other Territories, would in time of War have it in their power 
to communicate information to His Majestys Enemies. That 
this Island lay within less than half a mile of the American 
Shores, and consequently was at any moment liable to be 
taken possession of, unless defended by strong works, and a 
competent Garrison — That it was not worth this expense, 
nor, indeed either in an agricultural point of view, or for a 
fishery, of any value to the Crown. — That Frederick and Dud- 
ley Islands, adjacent thereto, were merely Rocks in the Bay of 
Passamaquoddy, extremely small and incapable of improve- 
ment, or, indeed, of being made useful in any manner what- 
ever. If an amicable decision could be effected by giving 
Moose Island with Dudley and Frederick Islands, its natural 
appendages to the United States, his Majestys Agent thought 
it would be an advantageous adjustment on the part of His 
Majesty, and infinitely preferable to leaving the question to be 
decided by a friendly Sovereign. Accordingly when I met 
the American Commissioner on the 6 th of October, I stated to 
him, that I had reflected on what he had suggested, and not- 
withstanding my conviction, that His Majesty's claim to all 



394 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

the Islands was supported by incontrovertible evidence, that I 
was willing, in order that a decision might be made in prefer- 
ence to a report, to yield np a part of the Islands claimed by 
His Majesty, to wit, Moose Island and Dudley and Frederick 
Islands, on condition that all the other Islands in the Bay of 
Passamaquoddy, and Grand Manan, should be decided to be- 
long to His Majesty. He appeared astonished that either my- 
self, or his Majestys Agent, had ever been serious in the claim 
for Grand Manan : represented its lying directly opposite the 
American Shores, and without the Limits of Sir William Alex- 
anders Grant, except a fractional part of it ; and that he never 
could consent to decide that this Island belonged to His Maj- 
esty. To these remarks I replied, by declaring, that unless he 
acceded to my last proposal, the appeal should be made to a 
friendly Sovereign or State. Eventually he agreed to give up 
Grand Manan, provided I would add the Island of Campo 
Bello to the three I had offered to give to the United States. 
I told him he had my ultimatum, an ultimatum I had brought 
myself with much difficulty to offer, while under a conviction 
that His Majesty's Title to Moose, Dudley and Frederick Isl- 
ands was beyond dispute — It was not until the morning of 
the 9 th , that I could induce the Commissioner on the part of 
the United States to agree to the Terms I had proposed, and 
then with great reluctance and apparent Hesitation, and only 
on condition that I would unite with him in a Letter to both 
Governments, expressive of our opinion that the Eastern Pas- 
sage from the Bay of Passamaquoddy was common to both 
nations. This letter he penned while I wrote the decision, but 
the Letter was so corrected by me, as to render it a mere mat- 
ter of opinion, not official, on the part of the Commissioners 
and consequently not binding on either of the nations. Still 
I beg leave to observe to your Lordship, that I think the 
United States, in justice, and for preserving harmony be- 
tween the two nations, should be permitted the use of this 
Eastern Passage, or outlet into the Bay of Fundy. 

I have the Honor to enclose herewith a copy of that Letter, 
and of the decision, at present executed on paper. As the 
copying of the Arguments of the Agents, and of other papers 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 395 

required some Weeks, we adjourned to the 24th of November, 
then to re-execute the decision, to be engrossed on Parchment, 
and to deliver to the Agents the documents directed by the 
Treaty : all which will be done before the close of that month. 

It would be withholding a Tribute justly due to the Talents, 
Industry, and unremitted attention, of Mr. Chipmau, His 
Majestys Agent, throughout the discussion which has taken 
place, and to his prudence in securing some valuable papers 
used under the Commission to which he was Agent in 179G, 
did I not state to your Lordship how ably he has advocated 
His Majestys claim. This declaration in his favor would be 
unnecessary, if it were in your Lordship's power to spare the 
time which a perusal of his two arguments would require. 

I trust your Lordship and His Majestys other Ministers, 
will approve of the decision, whereby the United States ac- 
quire only the same three small Islands, intended for them by 
the unratified conventions of 1803 and 1807, while not only 
the Title to all the other Islands in the Bay of Passama- 
quoddy, in like manner secured to His Majesty by those Con- 
ventions, is confirmed, but the Island of Grand Manan is 
declared to belong to His Majesty; — an Island justly re- 
marked, in a preceding part of this Letter, to be of more in- 
trinsic value and national importance, than all the Islands in 
the Bay of Passamaquoddy. 

TO MR. CHIPMAN. 

New York 8th November 1817. 
Dear Sir, 

I have read with no little pain, your sons Letter to you of 
the 24 th of October. It is distressing to think that a person, so 
unequal to the duty, as Col. Bouchette appears from his rep- 
resentation to be, should have been appointed to a service, 
which required Talents, as well as professional knowledge 
with respect to the practical parts of the Surveys. Indepen- 
dent of every other objection, he is unfit for his office, if he is 
the timid Character represented by your Son and bullied by 
the American Surveyor. Ascertain the fact, and give me the 



396 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

earliest information, that I may acquaint Government. — I 
was not a little surprised to find, your Son attached incom- 
petency to Mr. Campbell, as well as Col: Bouchette, having 
always understood from you, that he was fully equal to run- 
ning a plain, simple North line. If the fact is so, another 
must be procured by you to supply his place. Is young Mr. 
Odell as clever and competent, as your Son represents, if so 
write me officially recommending him, and I will request Lord 
Castlereagh to appoint him in the place of Col : Bouchette. If 
Odell looks forward to succeed his Father, or to the future 
countenance of Government, he will not refuse the appoint- 
ment. No time is to be lost, let me therefore hear from you as 
early as possible. — I know so little of this North Line, or the 
consequences which will follow if the Restigouche is adopted 
as the River, whose waters empty into the River St. Lawrence, 
that I can form no opinion. I observe what you notice at the 
foot of your Letter to me of the 30' ult°, namely that the River 
Restigouche empties into the Gulf of S* Lawrence by the Bay 
of Chaleurs, and not into the River. This is a decisive objec- 
tion, should it hereafter become necessary to avail ourselves 
of it. — Col. Bouchette however, in his Letter to your Son, 
speaks of the intersection of the Line with this River four 
miles North of the little Wagansis, as advantageous to His 
Majesty, as Great Britain will partake in all the advantages of 
the Portage. — Is he correct on this point. — All must be left, 
and I cheerfully do submit it, to you, who are as it were on the 
spot, and can acquire important information and advice from 
the Surveyor General and other Gentlemen well informed on 
the Subject. — On this Article we must exert ourselves, and 
do our Government the Justice it merits. I feel assured it is 
unnecessary to urge you or your Son to increased exertions. 

TO MK. VAN NESS. 

New York, 3 d December 1817. 
Sir, 

Although it scarce admits of a doubt, that the Secretary of 
the Board of Commissioners under the 6 th & 7 th Articles of the 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 397 

Treaty of Ghent has addressed a letter to you containing a 
resolution of that Board on the 29th of October, still to pre- 
vent the possibility of your not having received it, I do myself 
the Honor to enclose you a copy. — By the resolution you 
will perceive that these Commissioners are to meet at Hamil- 
ton on the 15th of May next and that they are in the interval 
ready to receive any communications from you and me relat- 
ing to the joint meeting of the two Boards to establish at the 
River Cateraquy the precise point where the parallel of the 
45 Degree of North Latitude intersects that River. 

If I recollect, in a letter I received from you during last 
Summer, you hinted an opinion that neither the Treaty of 
Ghent, nor the Treaty of Peace in 1783 to which it refers gave 
any directions to these Commissioners to establish this pre- 
cise point. In this I agree in opinion with you : but as they 
are to proceed (under the 5 th Article of the Treaty of Ghent) 
from the middle of that part of the River Iroquois or Catera- 
quy where the parallel of the 45 Degree of North Latitude 
strikes that River, it becomes important to them to know the 
precise spot as a locus a quo from which their surveys com- 
mence. If this parallel is ascertained by the Astronomers un- 
der the two Commissions separately, it is probable there may 
be a difference of a few feet in the results of the astronomical 
observations in which event there would be two points estab- 
lished by the respective Boards as the parallel where the 45 th 
degree of North Latitude where it strikes the River Cateraquy. 
This if possible should be avoided, and by a joint meeting of 
the two Boards prevented. Our Board stands adjourned to 
meet at New York early in May, at which time and place I take 
for granted the Surveyors of the exploring Party will attend 
as well as the Agents. It appears to me, that if we were to 
change the place of our meeting to Hamilton, or some other 
convenient place near St. Regis, and direct the Secretary, 
Agents, Dr. Tiarks and Mr. Ellicott the Astronomers and 
Mr. Bouchette and Mr. Johnson the Surveyors to meet us 
there, it would be attended with little trouble or difficulty to 
them, indeed I conceive that I will be the only person materi- 
ally inconvenienced. By this measure we shall be on the spot, 



398 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

and can arrange with the other commissioners the point of in- 
tersection, while we can at the same time receive the reports of 
the Surveyors with respect to what has been done this Summer 
and give them such further directions as may appear necessary. 
These are my sentiments, but I am by no means tenacious 
of them, if they coincide with yours I shall be happy, if not 
favor me with your reasons, so that we may return an answer 
to the Commissioners under the 6 and 7 Articles; and in the 
former event notify our Secretary, Agents, Astronomers and 
Surveyors, where and when to attend. Any day between the 
first aud 10th day of May will suit me to meet our own Board, 
and the Board of the other Comm rs . 



TO MR. CHIPMAN. 

New York 6 th Deer 1817. 
My dear Sir, 

I received a few days since your Letter of the 17 th of No- 
vember together with its enclosures, seven in number, for 
which accept my thanks. I am pleased to find, notwithstand- 
ing an expression contained in one of your Sons Letters, that 
you continue satisfied with the conduct of Mr. Campbell the 
Surveyor, as it corresponds with the character you had invari- 
ably given me of that Gentleman. I know not sufficient of 
the Country to form any Idea of the consequences which will 
follow adopting the Restigouche for the River whose waters 
empty into the River St. Lawrence, or how it will comport 
with a River to be found the Waters of which discharge into 
the Atlantic Ocean. This point, as I suggested to you in my 
Letter of the 8th ult. I leave wholly to your better information 
and judgment, with this one remark, that if adopting this river 
will tend to His Majestys Interest there can be no objection to 
falling in with the wishes of the American Surveyor, and on 
the contrary should it be found prejudicial we may easily pre- 
vent the adoption of it, because it empties into the Bay of 
Chaleurs in the Gulf St. Lawrence, and not into the River of 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 399 

that name. If a Stream can be found whose waters empty 
into any River which discharges itself into the Atlantic Ocean, 
(nay I am not certain but even a Stream which unites with a 
River which pours its Waters into the Atlantic Ocean by the 
Bay of Fundy) such River, if it accords with the Interest of 
His Majesty should be pressed on the Surveyors as the River. 
If you are satisfied with Bouchette, all is well. In justice to 
our government, I beg leave to say, that it would have left the 
appointment of Astronomers and Surveyors to me, but as I 
did not know of any really able ones in America, and did not 
wish to assume that responsibility which would attach to my 
appointment, I requested the Foreign office to provide the 
Commission with adequate Astronomers and Surveyors. Still 
if necessary I am of opinion, and shall have no reluctance to 
appoint others, and supersede those now on that service. I 
enclose herewith the engrossed Decision of the Commissioners 
Tinder the 4th Article of the Treaty also the sheets of the Jour- 
nal to complete those you took on from Boston; and the 
Presidents message to Congress. You will notice the manner 
in which he informs Congress of the decision of the Commis- 
sioners. He tells the truth but not the whole Truth. Not a 
word of the Bay of Fundy or Island of Grand Manan. — I 
think this augurs he feels sore on the point, otherwise he 
would have added to which of the two Nations that Island 
had been decided. 1 Although the Commission under the 5 th 
Article stands adjourned to meet here in May, I think it rather 
probable that we shall change the place of meeting to S l Regis 
on the S* Lawrence, near the point of intersection of the Par- 
allel of the 45th Degree of North Latitude with that River. 
Should it be so agreed upon between Mr. Van Ness and my- 
self, you shall have the earliest Notice. 

1 "I have also the satisfaction to dy belonged, under the treaty of 
state that the Commissioners under 1783, have agreed in a report, by 
the fourth article of the treaty of which all the islands in the posses- 
Ghent, to whom it was referred to sion of each party before the late 
decide to which party the several war have been decreed to it." — Pres. 
islands in the Bay of Passamaquod- Monroe's Message, December 2, 1817. 



400 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

TO LORD CASTLEREAGH. 

New York 1" January 1818. 
My Lord. 

In my Letters to your Lordship of the 5 th and 25 th of June on 
the Subject of the Surveys then about to be commenced from 
the source of the River St. Croix to the Highlands, one of the 
objects directed by the 3 d Article of the Treaty of Ghent, I 
acquainted your Lordship, that the Commissioners under that 
Article had appointed two sets of Surveyors, the one to run 
the due North Line and admeasure the distance, the other to 
precede them and endeavor to discover that point of the 
Highlands described in the Treaty of Ghent and in the Treaty 
of 1783 as forming the North West Angle of Nova Scotia. 
The last named party was denominated the exploring Sur- 
veyors, and consisted of Mr. Bouchette on the part of His 
Majesty and Mr. Johnson on the part of the United States, 
the principal Surveyors of both nations. — These Gentlemen 
have explored about one hundred miles north to a stream 
called the Wagunsis, which falls into the River Restigouche, 
which emptieth (not into the River St. Lawrence) but into the 
Gulf of St. Lawrence by the Bay of Chaleurs: It appears 
they consider this Stream to comport with the description in 
the second Article of the Treaty of 1783 respecting the High- 
lands, and the waters which empty into the River St. Law- 
rence. At present it is impossible to determine whether the 
adopting of this Stream will comport with His Majesty's in- 
terests. Waters falling into the Atlantic ocean correspond- 
ing with the words of the Treaty must be found before this 
result can be ascertained. Should the adoption of this 
Stream prove injurious, it can always be rejected on proof 
that the waters do not empty into the River, but into the 
Gulf of St. Lawrence. In the present uncertain state of the 
exploring survey, it was not my intention to have troubled 
your Lordship on the Subject. I have, however, been led to 
make the preceding remarks to show under what part of the 
Surveys Mr. Bouchette had been employed during the last 
Season, and to enable your Lordship the more readily to com- 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 401 

prekend the enclosed copy of a Letter from Mr. Chipman, His 
Majestys Agent to me. 

Your Lordship will perceive from this Letter that Mr. 
Chipman is dissatisfied with Mr. Bouchette, that he thinks 
he wants at least practical professional knowledge, prudence, 
nerve and constitution, and on the whole is not a character 
in whom a matter of so much moment as ascertaining the 
North West Angle of Nova Scotia can with safety be confided. 
Yet as his opinion is formed in some measure from conjecture 
and tlu 1 reports of others, Mr. Chipman is unwilling that Mr. 
Bouchette should be superceded in his appointment, he there- 
fore recommends that I accced at the meeting of the Board 
in May next to the proposition of the American Commissioner 
and Agent to commence running the parallel of the 45 Degree 
of North Latitude from the River Cataraguay to the North- 
westmost head of the Connecticut River, and to employ Mr. 
Bouchette on this service, which will be simple and over a 
tract of country generally under cultivation, in addition to 
his remarks, I beg leave to add that Dr. Tiarks His Majestys 
Astronomer and the American Astronomer Mr. Ellicott will 
be always near the Surveyors to correct any error. Indeed 
the Surveyors on this Line will have only to run and measure 
on a due east course from one station to another of the paral- 
lel to be established by the Astronomers. If this proposal 
meets your Lordships concurrence, I will in May assign to 
Mr. Bouchette this part of the Service. — A Surveyor in this 
event will be wanted to fill the place of Mr. Bouchette on the 
exploring survey to ascertain the Highlands, North of the 
Source of the River St. Croix, that divide those Rivers which 
empty themselves into the River St. Lawrence, from those 
wli ich fall into the Atlantic Ocean. Mr. Chipman has named, 
Mr. Odell the Present Secretary of the Province of New 
Brunswick, Son of the late Secretary of that Province, as a 
Gentleman every way qualified for this important Service, a 
Service infinitely the most material under the 5th article of 
the Treaty. He is however under an apprehension that Mr. 
Odell will not feel inclined to undertake so laborious a task 
on his or my request. I have no knowledge of Mr. Odell, but 

26 



402 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

the confidence I place in Mr. Chipmans prudence and judg- 
ment leads me to consider Mr. Odell as the most proper per- 
son to execute this duty. Should your Lordship think proper 
to adopt Mr. Chipmans recommendation it will be necessary 
for your Lordship, or Earl Bathurst to whose department as 
Secretary of New Brunswick he more immediately belongs, to 
write him a Letter, expressive of the Wishes of Government 
that he should undertake this Service, and that it is expected 
he will not decline doing it. The Letters on this Subject to 
Mr. Odell and to Mr. Chipman require dispatch. Mr. Chip- 
mans Letter to me, whereof a copy is enclosed, is confidential, 
and I feel it my duty to request your Lordship will be pleased 
to consider it such, and that it may not be communicated to 
any person, other than His Majesty s ministers. 1 



FROM DR. TIARKS. 

On the Old Line east of Lake Champlain. 

Oct. 15, 1818. 
Sir. 

Your letter of the 29th Sept. I had the honor of receiving 
to-day. I returned last Monday from the Station at Odell- 
town 2 and found Mr. Hassler 3 according to our agreement en- 
camped on Lake Champlain on the Old Line nearly opposite 
the American fort. I had no time to calculate my observations 

1 Col. Bouchette never rendered Regis, where they gave instructions 

any further service on the survey, for running the line of latitude 45° 

declining, it would seem, to act eastward along the States of New- 

under Dr. Tiarks ; and he was finally York and Vermont, and about the 

discharged by an order of Lord Cas- middle of June they adjourned to 

tlereagh, dated July 10, 1819. The meet again in the spring of 1819. 

commissioners under the 5 th Ai'ticle 2 A small village in Canada, near 

met this year (1818) at Burlington, Rouse's Point. 

Vermont, in the month of May, and 3 Ferdinand R. Hassler was, like 

there settled some matters relative Dr. Tiarks, a native of Switzerland, 

to the survey of the line running He was the first superintendent of 

north from the head of the St. Croix, the Coast Survey, and planned and 

From Burlington, the commissioners directed that great work until his 

went to Montreal, and thence to St. death in 1843. 



THE NORTHEAST BOUNDARY 403 

at Odelltowu made with the instrument you lately sent to 
me, but one which I had tried gave the Old Line about 3000 
feet too far north. Lieut. Vinton calculated one in which he 
placed great confidence and found the Old Line 35" (about 
3535 feet) north. Surprising as these results were yet their 
agreement made me think that they are correct. When I ar- 
rived at the Camp and informed Mr. Hassler of what I had 
found he expressed his belief that the Line was likewise too 
far north at this place. You may easily imagine my ardent 
desire to make observations with the repeating circle, but 
neither the observatory was finished nor the circle placed. I 
then took immediately the reflecting circle of Mr. Hassler and 
to my astonishment two observations of the Sun which agreed 
remarkably well gave my Latitude 45° 0' 38". That is about 
3838' North of the Parallel of 45° which I observed on the old 
line. I communicated it to Mr. Hassler and to my still greater 
surprise heard that the few observations he had calculated 
brought the old Line still farther north, that is about 46" 
(4646') which had likewise been so unexpected to him that he 
could at first not credit it. He then calculated some others 
and obtained with little difference the same result. Most 
anxious to get as quickly as possible at the truth he communi- 
cated to me an observation of the Pole Star, which I calculated 
this morning. The result of the whole observation consisting 
of two series of repetitions gave about 40" nearly the same 
which my own two Solar observations had given. Lieut Vin- 
ton yet ignorant of our result then began to calculate observa- 
tions of his own made with a reflecting circle and obtained 
only 12" north ; another however gave him 50". These are all 
the observations hitherto calculated. They are taken by three 
different observers with three several instruments of two (lif- 
erent constructions on different celestial objects and leaving 
out Mr. Vinton's one observation, which being a star observed 
by the reflecting circle deserves naturally less credit, they 
seem to indicate that the Old Line is about f mile too far 
north. The distance of the Fort built by Col Totten from 
the Old Line is reckoned less than half a mile ; the other now 
building is very near it and there seems therefore, hardly to 



404 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

remain any doubt but that both Forts are on British territory ! 
I have been thus particular in detailing to you what knowledge 
I have and on what it is founded as this point is of extreme 
importance and as I thought it necessary that you should be 
informed of it as soon as possible. "We have thought it ad- 
visable to keep this a profound secret ; nobody knows it as yet 
except those who calculated themselves, and even most of our 
Assistants are still ignorant of it. Lieut Vinton goes tomor- 
row to the American Agent and Mr. Hassler has written to 
General Swift about it partly with a view of obtaining a 
Zenith Sector ordered in London which may be expected to 
have arrived as it will be his duty to insist on the most accur- 
ate determination of this point. It is Mr. Hassler's opinion 
that the success of our operations might be endangered if this 
matter became generally known by the irritation which such 
a thing may produce on the minds of the lower classes, and he 
has requested me to keep it secret as long as possible. Whether 
such fears are grounded or not I cannot say being too little 
acquainted with the inhabitants of this State. 1 As I have 
perfectly laid open to you whatever I know I think to have 
discharged my duty and shall quietly continue my operations 
and await the further results. I am, &c, T. L. Tiarks. 

1 "I was going to the President's, the people there. ... I told Bagot 
but was detained half an hour by I thought it was nothing but a mag- 
Mr. Bagot, who came, in much agi- got in the brain of Hassler, and that 
tation, wit a letter he had just re- there was no clanger whatever. But 
ceived from Mr. Barclay, the British I promised to mention it to the Pres- 
Commissioner under the fifth Article ident and inform him of the result. 
of the Treaty of Ghent. It appears I found Crawford and Calhoun with 
that in running their forty -fifth par- the President, and told them of Ba- 
allel of latitude they find, by the ob- got's communication. Notice of the 
servations of the astronomers on fact that the astronomical observa- 
both sides, that the existing line tions are likely to deprive us of our 
touchin upon Lake Champlain is two new forts had been received 
about three-quarters of a mile too yesterday from Colonel Totten by a 
far north, and that the new line will letter from Hassler, but the Presi- 
bring two forts lately built by us dent and Calhoun laughed at the 
within the British territory. Hass- idea of the apprehended rebellion 
ler, the American astronomer, is so against the astronomers in Ver- 
much alarmed at this result that he mont." — Diary of John Quincy 
is afraid there will be a riot among Adams, October 28, 1818. 



CHAPTER IX 

LAST DAYS 

Few records exist of the last twelve years of Bar- 
clay's life; and, indeed, it was a quiet old age, 
disturbed by no unusual incidents and marked by no 
extremes of good or evil fortune. 

The chief public duty which remained still to be 
performed was the closing up of the affairs of the 
commission under the fifth article of the Treaty of 
Ghent. It had become perfectly clear, as early as the 
beginning of the year 1819, that Barclay's first impres- 
sions were correct, and that the difficulties in the way of 
an adjustment of the northeast boundary were so great 
as to preclude all hope of the commissioners reaching 
an agreement. From that time on, the efforts of the 
representatives of both governments were strenuously 
devoted to collecting evidence favorable to their re- 
spective claims, and to making up a record for submis- 
sion to an arbitrator. 

The work of surveying progressed with exasperating 
slowness, and the public, on both sides of the Atlantic, 
condemned the commission for their delays and for the 
heavy expense which they incurred. But accurate sur- 
veys were indispensably necessary ; and the country to 
be explored was extraordinarily difficult and the sea- 
son for operations extremely short. 

The commission sat in New-York in May, 1819, and 
again in Boston in May, 1820, but nothing beyond rou- 



406 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

tine business could be transacted. Maps were filed, 
surveyors and astronomers were instructed, and ac- 
counts were audited. At length it was agreed that the 
surveys had so far progressed as to allow the commis- 
sion to proceed to a discussion of the principles which 
were to be followed in running the line. A meeting for 
the purpose of hearing arguments was fixed for Octo- 
ber 23, 1820 ; but Mr. Chipman, the British agent, was 
unable to attend, and an adjournment was taken until 
the spring. 

The next year, 1821, the commission went industri- 
ously to work. They sat in New- York from May 14 
to June 9 ; again from August 1 to August 14 ; and 
finally from September 20 to October 4, when the argu- 
ments of the agents were completed, and a long and ill- 
tempered discussion between them was finally brought 
to an end. The commissioners separated upon the un- 
derstanding that separate reports were to be brought 
in, and that the winter was to be devoted to a prepara- 
tion of all the reports, maps and papers in duplicate 
which the Treaty of Grhent required should be laid 
before each government. 

On April 1, 1822, the final session of the commission 
was begun in New- York. The accounts were audited, 
the minor employees paid off, the reports were read, 
and finally, on April 13, the commissioners formally 
entered on their journal their failure to agree, and ad- 
journed until the further pleasure of the two govern- 
ments should be known. Their disagreement was 
complete. They did not even unite in reporting a gen- 
eral map of the region in dispute, but filed instead a 
mass of disconnected surveys. They differed as to the 
location of the northwest angle of Nova Scotia ; as to 
the situation of the "highlands"; as to the source of 



LAST DAYS 407 

the Connecticut River; and even as to the parallel of 
45° north latitude. 1 The report of the American com- 
missioner was comparatively brief, the copy filed in the 
State department at Washington covering only seventy 
folio pages of a rather small manuscript. Barclay's re- 
port was much more elaborate. Written in a very similar 
hand to that of his colleague's report, it extends to 322 
folio pages, to which are added 177 pages of appendix. 
It is a complete review of the subject in all its phases, 
and contains, besides an historical account of the boun- 
daries of the provinces of Nova Scotia, Quebec and 
Massachusetts, a discussion of every argument advanced 
on either side. These reports have never been printed 
in full, but liberal extracts were printed as appendices 
LIII. and LIT. (pp. 371-398) to the " American Case 
presented to the King of the Netherlands " (Washing- 
ton, 1829), a volume not published, but which is to be 
found in some of the larger libraries. 

The subsequent history of the northeast boundary 
question is not a little curious. The event of a disa- 
greement between the commissioners, contemplated by 
the Treaty of Ghent, having thus arisen, it had now 
become the duty of the two governments to submit 
their dispute to " a friendly sovereign or State " ; but 
the terms of the treaty were so vague in respect to 
methods of procedure that more than five years were 
consumed in desultory discussion before the needful 
arrangements could be made. At length, in September, 
1827, Albert Gallatin, then United States Minister in 
London, negotiated a treaty by which all the points 

1 The U. S. agent claimed that Point ; but the commissioner, Mr. 

geocentric instead of geographical Van Ness, expressed no opinion on 

latitude should be taken, the result this point in his report, 
of which would be to save Rouse's 



408 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

were covered. This treaty recites that the reports of 
the commissioners and the annexed documents are " so 
voluminous and complicated as to render it improbable 
that any sovereign or State should be willing to under- 
take the office of investigating or arbitrating upon 
them," and it is thereupon agreed to submit instead a 
new statement of facts on each side, accompanied by a 
general map — which is annexed to the new treaty — 
showing the watercourses and the boundary lines as 
contended for by each party respectively. 1 The state- 
ments of the parties were to be exchanged within fif- 
teen months of the ratification of the treaty, and replies 
thereto in six months thereafter; and the statements 
and replies were then to be submitted to the arbitrator. 

If a hope was really entertained of shortening the 
arguments to be submitted, that hope must very soon 
have been dispelled. The case could not be presented 
briefly. An enormous mass of printed matter was pre- 
pared by the representatives of each party, and during 
the year 1830 this great bulk of assertion and argument 
was laid before the King of the Netherlands, who had 
consented, in a rash moment, to act as arbitrator. 

On January 10, 1831, the arbitrator made his report. 
Instead of simply deciding the questions submitted to 
him, the King declared his inability to decide upon the 
line truly intended by the treaty of 1783, and he pro- 
posed instead a new line as a matter of compromise 
which— he suggested — it would be suitable (il conviendra) 
to adopt. Instead of following " highlands," the line 
was to run through a valley, proceeding along the mid- 
dle of the rivers St. John and St. Francis. The diffi- 
culty in regard to the parallel of 45 north latitude 
was got around by proposing to run the line according 

1 See a copy of this map, which is known as Map A, ante page 44. 



LAST DAYS 409 

to the corrected observations, but to save Rouse's Point 
to the United States by describing a semicircle round 
the fort. 

The award was satisfactory to neither party, and 
was rejected by both, and has never been published. 
Matters now seemed more unpromising than ever. 
Public feeling ran high, especially in Maine and New 
Brunswick. On one occasion, in 1838, certain British 
subjects having cut timber on the disputed territory, a 
Maine constable was sent with a posse to drive them 
off ; but he was himself arrested and imprisoned by the 
provincial authorities. The militia were ordered out, 
and actual warfare seemed for a time to be close at 
hand, until good sense prevailed, and " the Restook 
War " became nothing but a local reminiscence. 1 

The Webster- Ashburton Treaty in 1842 finally put 
an end to the whole troublesome business, not without 
blustering from Benton in the United States Senate, 
and Palmerston in the House of Commons. The at- 
tempt to find the northwest angle of Nova Scotia was 
given up. A line intermediate between the extreme 
pretensions of the two parties was drawn. And the 
unquestionable British claim to the line of 45° north 
latitude was surrendered, the old incorrect line of 1763 
being retained as the northern boundary of New- York 
and Vermont. Precisely twenty years and six months 
elapsed from the day the boundary commission ad- 
journed sine die in New-York until the ratifications 
of the Webster-Ashburton Treaty were exchanged in 
London. 

On that same day of the adjournment of the com- 
mission, Barclay paid Messrs. Isaac Wright & Son thir- 

1 Some account of the negotiations between the authorities on the border 
will be found in General Scott's Autobiography, Chap, xxiii. 



410 CORRESPONDENCE OF THOMAS BARCLAY 

ty-five guineas passage-money for a berth in the ship 
James Cropper ; and a day or two later he sailed for 
England, accompanied by Mr. Chipman. They landed 
at Kinsale, in Ireland, crossed the channel from Cork, 
and posted to London, arriving there early in June. 
They took with them the reports and records of the 
commission to be filed in the Foreign Office. Then- 
business was soon settled, and Barclay probably found 
less to attract him than when he had first visited Eng- 
land nearly twenty years earlier. Before the summer 
was over he was ready to return, and he sailed from 
Liverpool in the James Thompson, landing in New- York 
on September 7, 1822. 1 

On his return from this his last visit to England, 
Barclay was sixty-nine years of age, and the story of 
his remaining years may be told in few words. His 
work was done, and increasing infirmities put a per- 
emptory stop to further activity. 

In the summer of 1823 he hired a country place on 
Manhattan Island, which comprised a house and twelve 
acres of land. It lay on the Eastern Post Eoad, near 
the four-mile stone, sloping down to where a cove set 
in from the rocky shores of the East River. The waters 
of the little cove were shallow, and afforded a safe an- 
chorage for small craft away from the swirling tides 
that set through the narrow passage between Manhat- 
tan and Blackwell's Islands ; and Rock Harbor was the 
name which was given, appropriately enough, to the 
suburban villa. The site of it is covered to-day with 
breweries and tenement-houses, and it lies just east of 

1 He paid forty guineas for the ward. Owing to the prevailing west- 
westward trip, the rate of passage erly winds the voyage from England 
this way, according to the usual cus- was commonly the longer, 
torn, being higher than to the east- 



LAST DAYS 411 

Third Avenue, between Forty-fifth and Forty-seventh 
streets in the city of New- York. Barclay was pleased 
with his modest country-seat, and in March, 1824, he 
bought it of the owner, paying $500 an acre for it, or 
$6000 in all. He remained in possession of the property 
until the summer before his death, when he sold it for 
$9000, thus realizing a profit of fifty per cent, on his 
investment. 

His life was easy and uneventful. His grandchildren 
were multiplying and growing up about him, and his 
estate was prospering. He occupied himself with little 
household occupations, and noted with care the days 
of his migrations from town to country, and from 
country to town. A visit to Maryland, another to New- 
port, another to his son, Henry, on the Hudson River, 
were duly recorded ; and with them the bottling of his 
Madeira, and the days when servants were engaged or 
discharged. One reads in his note-books how he paid 
his coachman fourteen dollars a month, his gardener 
ten, and " Cicely, a black cook," only seven ; and one 
observes further down, without surprise, that Cicely was 
" dismissed for incompetence " at the end of a month. 
Lists were kept of the guests at his dinner-parties, and 
he made precise notes of his engagements to dine 
abroad. The old gentlemen, his friends, were mostly 
" warm Federalists," though Federalism, hot or cold, 
had ceased to be — Mr. Gracie, Mr. Ray, Dr. Hosack, 
Mr. Varick. Hours were earlier than at this end of the 
century. Mr. Waddington, and Mr. Jauncey, and Mr. 
Moses Rogers, we find, dined at five o'clock; but Mr. 
Low and Mr. H. Rogers dined at the less dissipated 
hour of four. 

In October, 1825, the fiftieth anniversary of Barclay's 
wedding came round. All the surviving children were 



412 CORRESPONDENCE OP THOMAS BARCLAY 

at hand, except Maria, who was away with her hus- 
band in British G-uiana, and De Lancey in England. 
De Lancey had this year been made a colonel by bre- 
vet, and aide-de-camp to King George IV.; and he had 
now at last married, being forty-five years of age. 
G-eorge had given up his notions of settling in England, 
and was now established as a successful merchant in 
New- York. 

The spring of the next year brought the ill news of 
De Lancey's death — of pneumonia, it would seem — 
only a very few days after the birth of his child, a little 
girl, who died young. His death was a bitter blow to 
his father, who had always cherished a peculiar affec- 
tion for the handsome soldier. Financial worry came 
also through Henry, the eldest son, who had retired 
from business in New- York, and had embarked in ra- 
ther ill-advised ventures at Saugerties, in Ulster County, 
where he established iron-works and a paper-mill that 
absorbed a great deal of money, and made no returns 
for a long time afterward. 

But there were good days as well as evil, and time 
on the whole passed by not unhappily. Barclay's 
health, for the most part, continued good, though there 
were long intervals in winter when fear of cold weather 
kept him in his house. In particular, and most fortu- 
nately for him, his mental faculties and his eyesight 
were unimpaired, and letters written almost in the last 
month of his life show no change either in their style or 
in the small and rather difficult handwriting. From the 
summer of 1829, however, he began to fail rather rap- 
idly. The end came at last on Wednesday, April 21, 
1830. In the words of a book which he loved, he was 
gathered to his fathers, having the testimony of a good 
conscience ; in the communion of the Catholic Church ; 



LAST DAYS 413 

in the confidence of a certain faith ; in the comfort of 
a reasonable, religious and holy hope; and in perfect 
charity with the world. 

His wife survived him a little over seven years, and 
died May 2, 1837, being then nearly eighty-two years 
of age. They are buried together, in the churchyard 
of St. Mark's in the Bowery. 



APPENDIX 
CHILDREN OF THOMAS AND SUSAN BARCLAY 

1. Eliza Barclay, born at Flushing, N. Y., December 3, 

1776; married Schuyler Livingston of New-York, June 
17, 1796; died at Harlem, June 21, 1817. 

2. Henry Barclay, born in New- York, October 27, 1778 ; 
married Catherine Watts, August 13, 1817; died at Saug- 
erties, N. Y., January 3, 1851. 

3. De Lancey Barclay, born in New- York, June 16, 1780 ; 
married Mary, widow of Gurney Barclay, in 1825 ; died in 
England, March 29, 1826. 

4. Maria Barclay, born in New- York, June 27, 1782 ; mar- 
ried Simon Fraser of Berbice, British Guiana; died at 
New- York, August 7, 1862. 

5. Thomas Edmund Barclay, born at Wilmot, Nova Scotia, 

December 4, 1783 ; married Catherine Channing, February 
14, 1821 ; died at New- York, January 30, 1838. 

6. Susan Barclay, born at Annapolis, Nova Scotia, Febru- 
ary 5, 1785 ; married Peter Gerard Stuy vesant of New- 
York, August 20, 1803; died at New- York, January 14, 
1805. 

7. Beverley Robinson Barclay, born at Annapolis, Nova 

Scotia, December 22, 1786; died at New- York, June 15, 
1803. 

8. Ann Barclay, born at Annapolis, Nova Scotia, December 

7, 1788; married William B. Parsons, R. N., May 29, 
1815 ; died at New- York, June 20, 1869. 

9. George Barclay, born at Annapolis, Nova Scotia, July 
4, 1790; married Anna Matilda Aufrere, December 8, 
1818 ; died at New Hamburgh, N. Y., July 28, 1869. 



416 APPENDIX 

10. Anthony Barclay, born at Annapolis, Nova Scotia, Sep- 

tember 27, 1792 ; married Ann Waldberg Glenn ; died at 
Hartford, Conn., March 21, 1877. 

11. Clement Horton Barclay, born at Annapolis, Nova 

Scotia, August 3, 1796 ; and died there in September, 
1797. 

12. Cornelia Elizabeth Stewart Barclay, born in New- 
York, May 23, 1801 ; and died there, June 28, 1801. 



INDEX 



INDEX 



Act for the more effectual preserva- 
tion of peace, etc., 213, 214, 219, 
220, 222. 

Adams, John ; testimony as to map 
used at Paris in fixing Northeast 
Boundary, 66, 73-75 ; probably re- 
elected President, 115. 

Adams, John Quincy, 375, 378, 404. 

Admiralty, Courts of, American com- 
plaints concerning, 119; reform in, 
120, 134. 

Africaine, H. M. Ship, 291. 

Albany, Rev. Thomas Barclay settled 
in (1707-1722), 4 ; Rev. Henry Bar- 
clay born in, 6; clergyman in (1738- 
1746), 7. 

Alexander, Sir William, grant to, 55, 
59, 71, 91, 367, 372, 374, 379, 389- 
392. 

Alternate naming of Sovereigns in 
public documents, when rule to be 
followed, 381, 382. 

Ambuscade, French Frigate, 173. 

American Ships of War, reasons of 
their success in actions with Brit- 
ish Ships, 336-338. 

Analostan, American Brig, 333. 

Analostan Island, residence of Gen. 
John Mason, 314. 

Andromache, H. M. Ship, 126, 129, 
154. 

Annapolis, Nova Scotia, 25, 29, 35, 
36. 

Asia, H. M. Ship, 15. 

Aurora, newspaper, attacks Col. Bar- 
clay, 259. 

Austin, James T., American agent 
before the Commissioners under 
the fourth article of the Treaty of 
Ghent, 359, 376. 

Bagot, Charles, British Minister 
at Washington, 375, 404. 

Banks, Sir Joseph, 378. 

Baker, Anthony St. John, British 
Secretary of Legation at Washing- 
ton, 310, 327, 328. 



Barclay, Andrew (of Newtown, L.I.), 
9, 11. 

Barclay, Ann (daughter of Col. 
Thomas Barclay), 318, 351, 415; 
marries W. B. Parsons, 365. 

Barclay, Anna Dorothea (wife of 
Beverly Robinson), 9. 

Barclay, Anthony (of Albany), 6. 

Barclay, Anthony (son of Col. Tho- 
mas Barclay), 416 ; at school in 
Nova Scotia, 96, 206 ; goes to Eng- 
land to study for the bar, 258 ; 
appointed British Commissioner 
under the sixth and seventh ar- 
ticles of the Treaty of Ghent, on 
the death of Mr. Ogilvy, 356 ; mar- 
ries Ann Waldberg Glenn, 365. 

Barclay, Beverley, 415 ; removes to 
New York, 96 ; death of, 146. 

Barclay, Catharine, 9. 

Barclay, Clement, 77, 416. 

Barclay, Cornelia (wife of Stephen 
De Lancey), 9. 

Barclay, Cornelia (daughter of Col. 
Thomas Barclay), 128, 416. 

Barclay, David, emigrates to Amer- 
ica and dies at sea, 2. 

Barclay, De Lancey, 415 ; serves in 
a Nova Scotia regiment, 95 ; ap- 
plies for commission in the regular 
army, 104; Ensign in 41st Foot, 
105 ; goes to Montreal, 117 ; pro- 
moted, 135 ; goes to England, 145 
promoted to be Captain, 206, 226 
Major and Lieut. -Colonel, 258 
appointed to the Guards, 318 ; pro- 
moted to be Colonel and marries 
Mary Barclay, 412; his death, 412. 

Barclay, Eliza (wife of Schuyler 
Livingston), 61, 415; her death, 
365. 

Barclay, George, 415 ; at school in 
Nova Scotia, 96, 206 ; comes to 
New York in 1808 and goes into 
business wit h Henry Barclay, 258; 
marrios Anna Matilda Aufrere, 
365. 



420 



INDEX 



Barclay, Eev. Henry, born at Albany, 
graduated at Yale, 5 ; rector of St. 
Peter's Church, Albany (1738- 
1746), 6 ; rector of Trinity Church, 
New York (1746-1764), 7 ; marries, 
8 ; Doctor of Divinity, 10 ; his death 
in 1764, 11. 

Barclay, Henry (son of Col. Thomas 
Barclay), 415 ; a clerk at Halifax 
95; removes to New York, 96 
warns British frigates, 199, 201 
enters into partnership with Mr 
Rumsey, 206 ; becomes a success- 
ful merchant, 258 ; communicates 
with British men-of-war, 269 ; 
marries Catherine Watts, 365; fi- 
nancial difficulties, 412. 

Barclay, John, settles in East Jersey 
in 1683, 1 ; dies 1731, 3. 

Barclay, Maria (wife of Simon Fra- 
ser), 97, 415. 

Barclay, Mary (widow of Rev. Hen- 
ry Barclay), 11, 31. 

Barclay, Robert, Governor of East 
Jersey, 2. 

Barclay, Susan (daughter of Col. 
Thomas Barclay), 415 ; marries 
Peter Gerard Stuyvesant, 148; 
her death, 206, 209, 215. 

Barclay, Susan (wife of Col. Thomas 
Barclay), 16, 36, 413. 

Barclay, Rev. Thomas, takes orders, 
4 ; dies 1722, 5. 

Barclay, Thomas (of Albany), 6. 

Barclay, Col. Thomas, born in New 
York 1753, 1; education, 12; grad- 
uates from King's College, 14; 
studies law, 15 ; marries Susan De 
Lancey, 16 ; settles at the Walkill, 
17 ; joins the British Army in 1776, 
19, 22 ; military service, 22-28 ; set- 
tles in Nova Scotia, 20 ; life at Wil- 
mot, 28; member of Provincial As- 
sembly 1785, speaker 1793-1799, 
30 ; raises a regiment in Nova Sco- 
tia, 30 ; education of his children, 
40 ; Commissioner under Jay's 
Treaty, 46 ; revisits New York, 47 ; 
unites with American Commis- 
sioner in appointment of Egbert 
Benson as third Commissioner un- 
der Jay's Treaty, 58, 62; attends 
meetings of commission, 64-66, 
73-75, 90-94 ; signs report of Com- 
missioners, 90 ; appointed British 
Consul-General at New York in 
January, 1799, 95 ; takes up his resi- 



dence there, 96 ; salary in arrears, 
99; rumor of efforts to supplant 
Sir John Wentworth, 114 ; visit 
to England (April, 1802, to April, 
1803), 145 ; removes to Harlem, 207 ; 
sails for Europe in 1812 on declar- 
ation of war, 257 ; takes lodgings 
in London, 312 ; appointed Agent 
for British prisoners of war, 313 ; 
sails for the United States via 
Bermuda and goes to Washington, 
314 ; returns to Harlem, 315 ; or- 
dered to remove to Bladensburgh, 
316, 341-343; resigns as agent for 
prisoners, 317, 343 ; ordered to re- 
move to Hagerstown, 317, 345 ; 
sails for England Oct. 1814, 318; 
engaged in settling accounts for 
maintenance of prisoners of war, 
353 ; appointed Commissioner un- 
der fourth and fifth articles of 
Treaty of Ghent, 355; returns to 
New York and resumes duties of 
Consul-General, 356 ; doubts possi- 
bility of settling Northeast Boun- 
dary, 360; sells his house at Har- 
lem and moves to New York, 365 ; 
instructions from the Foreign Of- 
fice concerning duties and com- 
pensation as Commissioner under 
the Treaty of Ghent, 365-370; 
signs decision of Commissioners 
in regard to islands in Passama- 
quoddy Bay, 394; files separate 
repoi't in regard to Northeast 
Boundary, 407 ; sails for Europe 
(April, 1822), 409; returns to New 
York, 410 ; purchases a country 
place in the East River, 411 ; his 
death, 412. 

Barclay, Thomas (son of Col. Tho- 
mas Barclay), 415 ; enters British 
Navy, 96; midshipman, 127; pro- 
moted to be lieutenant, 206 ; com- 
mander, 258, 312 ; post captain, 
318 ; retires on half pay, 318. 

Barney, Joshua, 149. 

Barron, Commodore James, U. S. N., 
101, 267. 

Barron, Capt. Samuel, U. S. N., 101. 

Barton, George, clerk to Col. Bar- 
clay, 345, 346, 347, 349, 351, 352. 

Bathurst, Earl, 340, 376, 377, 380, 
402. 

Bayard, Samuel, 22, 31. 

Beasley, Reuben G., Agent for Amer- 
ican prisoners in England, 313, 320. 



INDEX 



421 



Bell, Isaac, 158. 

Benson, Egbert, 9, 13, 31; Commis- 
sioner under Jay's Treaty, 46, 51, 
58,62; views concerning River St. 
Croix, 91-93; views concerning 
title to Moose Island, 285. 

Benson, Robert, 8. 

Berceau, French Corvette, 125, 127, 

Beresford, Capt., R.N., 207-209 226 
228, 230, 240-242. ' 

Berkeley, Vice-Admiral, 243, °47 
249, 258, 262, 266, 267, 271. ' 

Berlin Decree, 253, 262. 
Bickerton, Admiral Sir Richard, 325. 
Bilhngs, Samuel, wrongfully im- 
pressed, 183, 191. 
Bladensburgh, Battle of, 317, 348. 
Bladensburgh, designated as place 
of residence for Col. Barclay, 341, 
342, 343; Barclay directed to re- 
move from in consequence of ap- 
proach of British troops, 345; 
leaves his papers in charge of his 
clerk at, 346. 
Blockade of New York by British 
Squadron in 1804, 170-176, 179; 
American jurisdiction infringed' 
185, 189 ; difficulties of, 200, 204. 
Blowers, Sampson Salter, 35. 
Bonaparte, Jerome, description of, 
149; reported engaged to marry 
Miss Patterson, 152; match re- 
ported broken off, 154; intended 
visit to Canadian border, 155 • 
marries Miss Patterson, 160; ar- 
rives in New York, 162 ; embarks 
on French frigate Didon, 167; 
efforts made by British authori- 
ties to capture him, 170; his ser- 
vants sent to France in brig 
Rolla, 175; goes to Ballston, 181; 
unsuccessful efforts to elude Brit- 
ish cruisers, 193, 194; receives 
orders to return to France with- 
out his wife, 195; sails for Eu- 
rope in American ship Erin, 211- 
212; in command of ship Veteran 
abandons squadron commanded 
by Willaumez, 243-244, 248. 
Bond, Phineas, British Consul at 
Philadelphia, correspondence 

with, 48, 52, 54, 56, 60, 63, 71, 115, 

Boston, H. M. Ship, 96, 100, 125 129 
164, 167, 171. 173, 174, 179. ' 

Boston, U. S. Ship, 125, 148. 
27* 



Bouchette, Joseph, Surveyor-Gen- 
eral of Canada, appointed British 
Surveyor under the Treaty of 
Ghent, 366, 371, 377 ; to act only 
under direction of the commission 
under the fif th article, 388: incom- 
petence of, 395, 399, 400, 401 ; dis- 
charged, 402. 

Boundary Question with Great Brit- 
am,44,68,353-355,357-365,405-409. 

Bradley, Capt, William, R. N., 154, 
163; commands British squadron 
blockading New York, 165-182 
185, 189-191, 194-196; suffers 
French frigates to escape, 197- 
199 ; removed from command by 
British Government and imme- 
diately promoted, 200. 

Bradshaw, Capt., R. N., 269. 270. 

Bramble, H. M. Ship, 308, 309. 

Bramston, William, 157. 

Bromley, Capt., R. N., 274. 

Broughton, Charles R., correspon- 
dence with, 98, 107, 136, 226. 

Burr, Aaron, 177, 207, 251, 302. 

Busy, H. M. Ship, 205, 210. 

Byam, Capt., R. N., 211, 263. 

Calvert, Edward, 317, 348. 

Cambrian, H. M. Ship, 154, 162, 163, 
166-169, 175, 178, 179, 181, 188, 195, 
196, 201, 202, 204-209, 226, 230, 231 
235-236, 238. 

Campobello Island, title to, 288, 358, 
360; decided to belong to Great 
Britain, 394. 

Canning, George, 256, 264, 268. 

Caprion, Gideon, wrongfully im- 
pressed, 298. 

Captures of American merchant ves- 
sels by British ships of war, 118- 
120, 134, 183, 187, 227. 

Carleton, Governor of New Bruns- 
wick, 66, 69, 70, 114. 

Carpenter, Thomas, 124. 

Cartel for regulating exchanges of 
prisoners, and negotiations con- 
cerning, 314, 324, 325, 329, 330, 339, 

Carysfort, H. M. Ship, 23. 

Castlereagh, Lord, 313, 319, 320; 
correspondence with, 336, 365, 
369, 370, 371, 375, 378, 380, 386, 
388, 400. 

Cazeaux, French Consul at Ports- 
mouth, N. H., intrigues with Ca- 
nadians, 263, 264, 270. 



422 



INDEX 



Certificates of Protection furnished 
to British seamen in American 
ships, 210, 218, 219, 297. 

Chamber of Commerce, action of, 
concerning capture of American 
merchant ships, 119. 

Chandler, Eufus, 34. 

Chauncey, Isaac, Capt., U. S. N., 
216, 217. 

Cheetham, James, 130, 189. 

Chesapeake, U. S. Ship, 254, 264, 
266, 267, 268, 308. 

Chichester, H. M. Ship, 244. 

Chipman, Ward, 52 ; British agent in 
regard to St. Croix Eiver, 52 ; his 
abilities, 67 ; proposes survey of 
north line from the source of the 
St. Croix, 68, 70 ; examines Island 
of St. Croix, 75 ; advises adoption 
of Eiver Chiputneticook as part of 
Northeast Boundary, 87-89; his 
capacity, 191 ; views of in respect 
to Moose Island, 280; British 
agent before the Commissioners 
under the fourth and fifth articles 
of the Treaty of Ghent, 359, 366, 
371, 374, 376, 377, 378 ; his views 
as to probable result of submitting 
boundary question to arbitration 
by a friendly sovereign, 392 ; his 
talents and industry, 395 ; corre- 
spondence with, 395, 398, 402. 

Chiputneticook Eiver, 45, 68, 70, 81 ; 
source of, to be adopted as source 
of the St. Croix, 88 ; Howell's ar- 
gument concerning, 91 ; finally 
adopted by Commissioners as 
Eiver St, Croix, 92, 93. 

Clarkson, David, 11, 12, 15. 

Cleopatra, H. M. Ship, 129. 

Clinton, DeWitt, introduces resolu- 
tion in State Senate adverse to 
claims of dower by widows of per- 
sons attainted of treason, 139; com- 
ments on his course, 140 ; ap- 
pointed Mayor of New York, 153 ; 
correspondence with, 157, 163, 223, 
233, 236 ; name mentioned as Vice- 
President, 307. 

Clinton, Sir Henry, certificate from, 
26. 

Cochrane, Vice-Admiral Sir Alex- 
ander, 206, 244, 247, 259, 274, 277, 
278, 290, 317, 347, 348, 350, 351, 
352. 

Cockburn, Captain George, E. N., 
153, 154, 156, 157. 



Coin in New York banks, difficulty 
of procuring Spanish dollars, 156, 
187 ; quality of gold, 208, 209. 

Colden, Cadwallader (Lt.-Gov.), 12, 
16, 18, 37. 

Colden, Cadwallader D., 113; em- 
ployed as attorney for Margaret 
De Lancev, 121-123, 138-143. 

Coldenham, N. Y., 18. 

Colibri, H. M. Ship, 257, 305, 312. 

Columbine, H. M. Ship, 269, 270. 

Commissions under Jay's Treaty, 
variations in terms of, 57, 72, 77, 
78, 86. 

Compton, Captain, E. N., 183. 

Connecticut Eiver, northwestern- 
most head of, 364, 365, 375, 380, 
384, 407. 

Constellation, U. S. Ship, 101. 

Constitution, U. S. Ship, 295, 312. 

Cook, Thomas, wrongfully im- 
pressed, 155. 

Cooper, Dr. Myles (President of 
King's College, N. Y.), 12, 15. 

Cornbury, Lord, 3, 4. 

Cox and Greenwood, army agents in 
London, 104; purchase a commis- 
sion for De Lancey Barclay, 105. 

Coxe, Daniel, 136. 

Craig, Gen. Sir James, 270, 275, 288 ; 
unjustifiable conduct in corre- 
sponding with Henry, 306. 

Croke, Alexander, Judge of the Ad- 
miralty Court in Halifax, 134, 242, 
289. 

Cruger, John Hams, 13, 22. 

Cybele, French Frigate, arrives at 
New York, 159 ; description of, 
160; watched by British naval 
force, 161-163, 167, 175, 176 ; plans 
to intercept when leaving New 
York, 179, 188, 191, 192, 195, 196; 
escapes through Long Island 
Sound, 197-199 ; arrives safely in 
France, 201 ; arrives at Norfolk 
disabled, 243, 244. 

Decrees of Napoleon restricting 
neutral trade, 253, 256. 

Deer Island, Passamaquoddy Bay, 
360. 

De Lancey, family of, 17. 

De Lancey, Alice (wife of Ealph Iz- 
ard), 127, 146. 

De Lancey, Anne (wife of John 
Cox), 61. 

De Lancey, Col. James, raises Tory 



INDEX 



423 



regiment, 17 ; settles in Nova Sco- 
tia, 25. 

De Lancey, James, loyalist agent in 
England, 17; forfeited estate of, 
109. 

De Lancey, Jane, marries John 
Watts, Jr., 16. 

De Lancey, Margaret, widow of 
James, 109 ; claim of dower in prop- 
erty in New York, 110-112, 121- 
123, 137-143, 209. 

De Lancey, General Oliver, 17, 27, 
135. 

De Lancey, Peter (of Westchester), 
16. 

De Lancey, Stephen, marries Cor- 
nelia Barclay, 9; Colonel in Brit- 
ish service, 17. 

De Lancey, Susan, marries Thomas 
Barclay, 16. 

De Lancey, Sir William Howe, killed 
at Waterloo, 356. 

De Monts, Sieur, occupation of Isl- 
and of St. Croix by, 59, 65. 

Desertion of British seamen, extent 
of, in 1799, 100 ; deserters enlisted 
inU. S. S. Constellation, 101 ; pro- 
posed law to arrest deserters in 
New York, 106-109; desertion 
from H. M. S. Phaeton, 153 ; Brit- 
ish seamen iu American frigates, 
179, 216 ; desertion from British 
cutter, 220; proclamation offering 
pardon to deserters returning to 
duty, 267; few British seamen 
willing to enlist in Royal Navy, 
269, 274 ; loss of men from H. M. S. 
Colibri, 305 ; many British seamen, 
most of them deserters, on Ameri- 
can frigates, 337. 

Detroit, Hull's surrender at, 312. 

Didon, French Frigate, arrives at 
New York, 159; description of, 
160 ; watched by British naval 
force, 161-163, 167, 175, 176 ; plans 
to intercept when leaving New 
York, 179-181, 188, 191, 192, 195, 
196 ; escapes through Long Island 
Sound, 197-199 ; arrives safely in 
France, 201. 

Diggio, John, wrongfully impressed, 
295 297. 

Dougia"ss,Capt., R.N., 100,125, 158, 
167, 171, 174, 178, 206. 

Dower claimed by widows of per- 
sons attainted of treason, 103, 110- 
112, 121-123, 137-143. 



Draeyer, Andries, 6. 

Draeyer, Anna Dorothea, marries 
Kev. Thomas Barclay, 6. 

Driver, H. M. Ship, 162, 16:!, 166, 
167, 174, 178, 206, 228, 229, 230, 231. 

Duckworth, Admiral, 126, 131, 151. 

Dutch Reformed ministers at Al- 
bany, 4, 5. 

Dwyer, Lieutenant (H. M. Navy), 
126-128. 

Eastern States, aversion of, to war 
with Great Britain, 265, 268, 283, 
298, 335. 

Ellicott, Andrew, American Sur- 
veyor under the Treaty of Ghent, 
384, 385, 386, 387, 397, 401. 

Embargo on shipping in U. S. ports, 
255, 271, 272, 277, 281, 283, 284. 

Emigration from Great Britain and 
Ireland, 129 ; encouraged by revo- 
lutionary societies in America, 
130. 

Eole, French line-of-battle ship,248. 

Erin, American Ship, 211, 212. 

Erskine, David, British Minister at 
Washington, 249, 256; correspon- 
dence with, 259, 261, 266, 273, 275, 
278, 286, 288, 290. 

Essex, U. S. Ship, 316. 

Eugenia, American Ship, seized by 
H. M. S. Leander and recaptured 
by Americans off New London, 
183-187, 190. 

Euridice, H. M. Ship, 290. 

Fairlie, James, 210. 

Faustina, Privateer, 115. 

Fenwick, Lieut., 31. 

Findlayson, Mr., 40. 

Fingal, American Ship, 318, 352. 

Foster, Augustus J., British Minis- 
ter at Washington, coi'respon- 
dence with, 300, 301, 306, 307, 309, 
310 ; returns to England in July, 
1812, at the outbreak of the war, 
257, 312. 

Fox, Charles James, correspondence 
with, 244, 247. 

Franklin, Benjamin, advocates 
River St. Croix as boundary, 70; 
also contends for River St. John, 
75. 

Franklin, William, 69, 70. 

Frasei*, Simon, marries Maria Bar- 
clay, 97. 

Fuller, Brigadier-General, 131. 



424 



INDEX 



Gallatin, Albert, 156, 189, 190, 
267, 268, 289, 407. 

Genesagarumsis, Lake, 87, 91. 

Ghent, Treaty of, 319, 353-355. 

Goldsmith, Lewis, author of A Se- 
cret History of the Cabinet of Bo- 
naparte, 293, 294. 

Goulburn, Henry, Under-Secretary 
of the Colonies, 378. 

Grand Menan, Island of, title to, 
357, 360, 371, 373, 390, 392; de- 
cided to belong to Great Britain, 
394 ; value of, 395. 

Greenwood. (See Cox and Green- 
wood.) 

Grenville, Lord, correspondence 
with, 46, 47, 56, 64, 72, 73, 79, 90, 
97, 99, 107, 108, 115, 118. 

Guerriere, H. M. Ship, 295, 297, 298, 
312. 

Gun boats prepared for service, 265. 

Gunpowder, exportation of, to the 
West Indies, 151. 



Hagerstown, Col. Barclay directed 
to remove to, 345, 346 ; permitted 
to leave, 349. 

Haley, Nathan, 150, 151. 

Hall, Basil, 203, 212, 269, 356. 

Hamilton, Alexander, retained as 
counsel for Margaret De Lancey, 
123 ; death of, attachment to 
British Government, 177; fee 
charged Mrs. De Lancey, 209. 

Hamilton, Col., British Consul at 
Norfolk, 125, 152, 244, 264, 266. 

Hamilton, Jonas, an American citi- 
zen wrongfully impressed, 132. 

Hamilton, William Richard, Under- 
Secretary of State for Foreign 
Affairs, 293, 294, 298, 306, 318, 319. 

Hammond, George, correspondence 
with, 50, 63, 69, 150, 199, 211. 

Hardy, Capt. Sir Thomas, R. N., 
328. 

Harison, Richard, 13, 109, 111-113, 
123, 153, 249. 

Harrowby, Lord, 176, 187, 200. 

Hartley, David, 67, 69, 70. 

Hartshorne, Lawrence, 113, 260, 
298. 

Hartshorne and Boggs, 95. 

Hassler, Ferdinand R., 402, 403, 404. 

Hawkes, Capt., R. N., 290. 

Hawkesbury, Lord, correspondence 
with, 123, 124, 128, 129, 143, 149 ; 



refers questions of boundary to 
Col. Barclay, 145, 280, 391. 

Highlands forming part of North- 
east Boundary, 44, 360, 362, 374, 
375, 379, 380, 400, 406, 408. 

Hillyar, Capt., R. N., 316. 

Hislop, General, Governor of Trini- 
dad, 276. 

Holmes, John, American Commis- 
sioner under the fourth article of 
the Treaty of Ghent, 356, 376 ; his 
courtesy and impartiality, 388, 
389. 

Hotham, Capt., R. N., 208, 209. 

Howell, David, Commissioner under 
Jay's Treaty, 46, 48 ; informal 
meeting with Col. Barclay, 49-51 ; 
his arguments concerning River 
St. Croix, 91-93. 

Howick, Lord, 250, 251, 263. 

Humphreys, Capt., R.N., 268. 

Hunter, General Peter, 136, 155. 

Impetueux, French Frigate, burned 
by the British on the Virginia 
coast, 248. 

Impressment of American seamen, 
132, 147; applications for release, 
133, 154 ; delicacy of British naval 
officers with respect to, 178 ; more 
applications for release, 183, 191 ; 
orders of the Admiralty against, 
210 ; difficulty in dealing with the 
subject. 261 ; peculiarly unfortu- 
nate in 1811, 295, 296. 

Indian, H. M. Ship, 205. 

Indians. (See Mohawk.) 

Innes, Alexander, certificate from, 
27. 

Izard, Ralph, 127. 

Jackson, Francis James, British 
Minister at Washington, 291. 

James Cropper, American Ship, 410. 

James Thompson, American Ship, 
410. 

Jay, John, 13, 15 ; negotiates treaty 
with England, 44; testimony as to 
map used at Paris in fixing North- 
east Boundary, 66, 73, 74. 

Jefferson, Thomas, 97, 137, 207, 252, 
254, 255, 261, 283, 292. 

Johnson, Sir John, 40, 117. 

Johnson, Rev. Samuel, 6, 11. 

Johnson, Sir William, 7. 

Juhel, John, 152, 187. 



INDEX 



425 



Keith, George, 3. 

Kempe, Grace, claim of dower to 
lands in New York, 102, 137, 141, 
142. 

Kempe, John Tabor, 103. 

Kent, Duke of, 104, 133. 

King, Rufus, U. S. Minister in Lon- 
don, 79, 145, 280, 281, 353, 391. 

King's College, charter of, 9 ; course 
of study, 12 ; political tendencies, 
13. 

Knox, General Henry, 48, 51. 

La Diligente, French Privateer, 
299. 

Lafney, Rear-Admiral Sir Francis, 
296,' 299. 

Lake of the Woods, 92, 354. 

Laurie, Capt. Sir Robert, R. N., 154, 
269, 272. 

Leander, American Ship, 262. 

Leander, H. M. Ship, 161, 181, 185, 
183, 187, 188, 195, 196, 201, 202, 
203-207 ; shot from, kills an Amer- 
ican citizen, 230 ; excitement in 
New York in consequence, 231- 
238 ; sails for Halifax, 238. 

Leopard, H. M. Ship, 212, 254, 264, 
266, 267, 268. 

Lilly, H. M. Ship, 129, 148, 152 ; cap- 
tured by French privateer, 183. 

Line of forty-five degrees north lat- 
itude, 364, 380, 385, 386, 397, 401 ; 
discovered to have been erro- 
neously run in 1766, 364, 402-404, 
407 ; old line adopted as boundary 
by treaty of 1842, 409. 

Lispenard, Leonard, 11, 12, 15. 

Liston, Robert, British Minister in 
Washington, 47, 49, 72, 76, 78, 79, 
83, 86 ; consents to adoption of 
River Chiputneticook as part of 
Northeast Boundary, 89. 

Little Belt, H. M. Ship, 295. 

Little Cornelia, American Ship, 
seized by H. M. S. Leander and 
retaken by her own crew, 187, 190. 

Liverpool, Lord. ( See Hawkesbury. ) 

Livingston, Brockholst, 138. 

Livingston, Schuyler, married to 
Eliza Barclay, 61 ; dies in 1809, 
258. 

Livingston, William, 10. 

Lottery Tickets, purchases of, 108. 

Loyalists, Commissioners for sot* 
tling claims of, 21, 36-38. 

Ludlow, Gabriel V., 124. 



Lyall, Captain, R. N., 174, 175, 178. 

McKenzie, John, 214. 

Macomb, Alexander, 226. 

Madison, James, 213, 219, 224, 248, 
252, 259, 265, 284, 308. 

Magaguadavic River, claimed as the 
true St. Croix, 45, 58, 65, 68, 70, 
75; claim disproved, 81. 

Manhattan, American Ship, 210, 
211, 218. 

Maroons, settlement of, in Nova 
Scotia, 134, 135. 

Mason, George, of GunstonHall, 314. 

Mason, Gen. John, Commissary- 
General of prisoners, 314-317, 325 ; 
negotiations with, for exchange of 
prisoners, 326, 328, 329, 330, 333, 
334, 335 ; correspondence with, 338, 
345, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351. 

Mason, John M. (Mason and Slidell), 
315. 

Melampus, H. M. Ship, 248, 267, 268, 
290. 

Merry, Anthony, British Minister at 
Washington, 153 ; correspondence 
with, 155, 158, 159, 161, 162, 164, 
168, 172, 177, 178, 183, 184, 187, 
188, 192, 193, 201, 208, 209, 213, 
218, 221, 223, 224, 225, 230, 232, 
234, 237, 240, 245, 247, 248 ; returns 
to England, 249. 

Milan Decree, 253. 

Milan, H. M. Ship, 269. 

Militia, numbers and equipment of 
in 1809, in the Eastern States, 291- 
293. 

Missiessy, Admiral, 214, 221. 

Mitchell, Vice-Admiral, correspon- 
dence with, 148, 151, 152, 154, 158, 
159, 162, 166, 174, 181, 185, 190, 
195, 198, 200, 214, 220, 221, 222, 
227, 228. 

Mohawk Indians, religious teaching 
among, in 1710, 4, 5; between 
1735 and 1745, 6-8. 

Monroe, James, 200, 213, 228, 252, 
254, 265, 268; Barclay's inter- 
views with, 325, 327, 328 ; corre- 
spondence with, 332, 341, 342, 349; 
efforts of, to settle Northeast 
Boundary, 354, 391 ; declarat ion of, 
as to principles to be observed in 
carrying into execution the Treaty 
of Ghent, 370. 

Montgomery, Fort, Storming of, 22. 

Moore, Rev. Thorowgood, 4. 



426 



INDEX 



Moore, William Sturge, 32. 

Moose Island, title to, 279-281, 283, 
285-288, 355, 360, 393 ; decided to 
belong to the United States, 394. 

Morier, John Philip, British Charge 
d'Affaires at Washington, 293, 294. 

Mulgrave, Lord, 212, 228. 

Mutine, French Brig, 125, 128. 

Natrne, Capt., E. N., 230. 

Neilson, William, President of 
Marine Insurance Co., 158, 164, 
189, 190, 192. 

Netherlands, King of the, arbitrator 
under treaty of 1827, his award, 
408, 409. 

Neutral rights, 181, 189, 191, 203, 
227, 242, 252-254, 306. 

Newport, R. I., its commercial and 
political importance, 141. 

New York, expenses of living in, 
40 ; Thomas Barclay appointed 
British Consul in, 95 ; house rent, 
96; expenses of living in, 101; 
growth of, 103; blockade of, in 
1804, 203 ; excitement in, conse- 
quent on killing of an American 
citizen by H. M. S. Leander, 231- 
239 ; extension and improvement 
of, 285. 

Non-importation Acts, 227, 229, 252. 

Non-intercourse Law, 255-257, 289. 

Nova Scotia, Col. Thomas Barclay 
emigrates to, 28 ; value of land in, 
32, 33 ; state of education in, 41 ; 
communications with Gi*eat Brit- 
ain, 42 ; debt of, 63 ; definitions of 
boundary of, 91, 92 ; charming 
climate of, 103. 

Nova Scotia, ancient boundaries of, 
as described in Grant to Sir Wil- 
liam Alexander, etc., 367, 371-374, 
389-391. 

Nova Scotia, northwest angle of, 44, 
360, 379, 401, 406, 409. 

Ogilvy, John, appointed British 
Commissioner under the sixth and 
seventh articles of the Treaty of 
Ghent, 356, 381, 387. 

Orde, Vice-Admiral Sir John, 212. 

Orders in Council, 253, 256, 290, 312. 

Paine, Thomas, 151. 

Parker, Vice-Admiral, 115, 125, 128. 

Parrsborough, Nova Scotia, 32, 33. 



Parsons, W. B., marries Ann Bar- 
clay, 365. 

Pashell, Capt., R. N., 297, 298. 

Passamaquoddy, islands in the Bay 
of, surveyed, 65, 75 ; ownership of 
in dispute, 82; effect of decision 
in regard to River St. Croix, upon 
title to, 93 ; negotiations in 1802 
respecting, 145, 353; subsequent 
discussion concerning, 279-281, 
285-288 ; title to be determined by 
Commissioners under the fourth 
article of the Treaty of Ghent, 
357, 366, 371 ; discussion of Com- 
missioners concerning, 389-394 ; 
decision of Commissioners, 394. 

Patriot, French line-of-battle ship, 
243, 244. 

Patterson, Elizabeth (of Baltimore), 
reported engaged to Jerome Bona- 
parte, 152 ; married to him, 160 ; 
Gen. Armstrong declines taking 
her to France, 194; birth of her 
child and return to America, 211. 

Peacock, H. M. Ship, 332, 333. 

Pearce, John, an American seaman 
killed by a shot from H. M. Ship 
Leander, 230 ; excitement in New 
York in consequence, 231-239, 241. 

Perth Amboy, John Barclay settles 
at, 2, 3; Col. Thomas Barclay di- 
rected to embark from, 349, 350, 
352. 

Phaeton, H. M. Ship, 153, 154, 157. 

Pheasant, H. M. Ship, 129. 

Philipse, Frederick, 13. 

Philipse, Susannah, marries Col. 
Beverley Robinson, 19 ; attainted 
of treason, 137. 

Pichon, Louis Andre, French Charge" 
d'Affaires, 125 ; opposes marriage 
of Jerome Bonaparte, 152 ; de- 
spatches to, intercepted, 195. 

Pickering, Timothy, 48, 77, 78, 79, 
80, 86, 99. 

Pilots of New York, French sympa- 
thizers, 148 ; prohibited from tak- 
ing British frigates to sea until 
after French ships had sailed, 165, 
166, 169, 174, 182 ; medium of com- 
munication with seamen in the 
British frigates claiming to be 
Americans, 222 ; are all Demo- 
crats, 247 ; decline to bring letters 
from British men-of-war, 269. 

Pinkney, William, U. S. Minister in 
England, 252, 254, 257, 275, 354, 391, 



INDEX 



427 



Pitt, British Ship, seamen impressed 
from, in port of New York, 165-174, 
182, 191. 

Porter, Peter B., American Commis- 
sioner under the sixth and seventh 
articles of the Treaty of Ghent, 
357, 381, 387. 

Poursuivant, French Frigate, 177. 
(See President.) 

President, French Frigate, 194, 209. 
(See Poursuivant.) 

President, U. S. Ship, 295. 

Prevost, General Sir George, 302, 304, 
326, 330, 331. 

Prisoners of War, numbers of, 313 ; 
treatment of, regulated by cartel, 
314 ; instructions to Col. Barclay 
concerning care of, 320-324; en- 
ticed to enter the service of the U. 
S., 326 ; British subjects residing 
in the U. S. not considered as, 331. 

Privateers, French, 126, 128, 158, 
164, 183, 193, 221, 222, 223, 224, 
277, 299, 300, 301. 

Provincial Light Infantry, 24, 28. 

Rambouillet Decree, 256. 

Rawdon, Lord, 24 ; certificate from, 
26. 

Restigouche, River, 68, 70, 361, 362, 
396; 398. 

Revenge, U. S. Schooner, 272. 

Revolutionnaire, H. M. Ship, 194, 
205, 207. 

Rey, Antoine Gabriel Venance, 
French Consul-General in New 
York, 160, 161. 

Robertson, Gilbert, appointed agent 
for prisoners of war to succeed 
Col. Barclay, 344; U. S. Gov- 
ernment declines receiving, 350, 
351, 352. 

Robinson, Col. Beverley, raises 
Loyal American Regiment, 19; 
testimony as to Thomas Barclay's 
services, 27; his widow's claim of 
dower, 137. 

Robinson, Beverley, Jr., marries 
Anna Dorothea Barclay, 9; Lieut.- 
Colonel of Loyal American Regi- 
ment, 19. 

Robinson, Beverley (grandson of 
Col. Robinson), 112. 

Rock Harbor, Barclay's villa, 410. 

Rodgers, Commodore, U. S. N., 275. 

Roosevelt, Helena, 6. 

Rose, George Henry, 272, 275. 



Rouse's Point, forts at, found to be 
on British territory, 364, 403, 404 ; 
award of King of the Netherlands 
concerning, 409 ; title confirmed 
in the U. S. by treaty of 1842, 409. 

Russell, Jonathan, 313. 

Rutgers, Anthony, 8. 

Rutgers, Mary, marries Rev. Henry 
Barclay, 8. 

St. Croix, Island op, New Bruns- 
wick, 59, 65 ; remains of French 
settlement on, 75, 76. 

St. Croix, River, part of boundary 
line, 44 ; dispute as to, 45 ; origi- 
nated by James Sullivan, 53, 54 ; 
preliminary meeting of Commis- 
sioners in regard to, 46, 56-58 ; 
first full meeting, 64-66 ; second 
meeting, 73-75; third meeting, 87; 
decision to adopt the Schoodic or 
Chiputneticook as the true river, 
88; unanimous decision of Com- 
missioners in regard to, 90 ; north 
line fi-om source of, surveyed, 361, 
396, 400. 

St. Croix, source of River, difficulty 
of fixing, 45 ; discussion as to, 67 ; 
north line from, to be surveyed, 
69, 70 ; mode of marking source, 
79, 81, 83-86; intersection of north 
line from source with River St. 
John, 88 ; divergent views of Com- 
missioners as to mode of ascer- 
taining true source, 91-93. 

St. Croix, West India Island, 131. 

St. George's Church, 9. 

St. Helens, Lord, 67, 74. 

St. John, River, contended for as 
American boundary by Jay and 
Franklin, 75 ; where intersected 
by north line from the source of 
the St. Croix, 88, 93, 361, 362. 

St. Peter's Church, Albany, founded 
1714, Rev. Thomas Barclay being 
first rector of, 5 ; Rev. Henrv Bar- 
clay third rector of (1737-1746), 7. 

St. Peter's Church, Perth Amboy, 3. 

St. Regis, meeting of Commissioners 
under Treaty of Ghent at, 383, 384, 
385, 386, 387, 397, 402. 

Sawyer, Rear-Admiral, 297, 308. 

Schenectady, condition of, in 1710, 
4,5. 

Schoodic, River, 45, 54, 58, 65, 81; 
decided to be the true St. Croix, 
87, 91. 



428 



INDEX 



Seamen, American. (See Impress- 
ment.) 
Seamen, British. (See Desertion.) 
Seeker, Archbishop, 10. 
Semillante, French Frigate, 125, 129, 

182. 
Serpent, H. M. Brig, 126. 
Seymour, Vice-Admiral Lord Hugh, 

132. 
Sherbrooke, Sir John C, 303. 
Simpson, Capt., R. N., 229. 
Skene, Captain, R. N., 181, 183, 185, 

187, 189, 190, 195, 202. 
Society for the Propagation of the 

Gospel, 3, 4, 6, 8. 
Society Library, New York, 9. 
Southern States desirous of war with 

Great Britain, 265. 
Spook, James, wrougfullyimpressed, 

297. 
Statira, H. M. Ship, 272, 273, 274, 

275. 
Stuyvesant, Peter Gerard, marries 

Susan Barclay, 148. 
Sullivan, James, 53 ; agent of the 

U. S. in arbitration as to St. Croix 

River, 53, 54, 60, 83. 

Temple, Sir John, Consul-General 
in New York (1785-1798), 95, 96, 
126. 

Thomas, John, master of British brig 
Fox, indicted on charge of murder, 
245, 248. 

Thomson, Capt. John, R. N., 305. 

Thornton, Edward, British Secretary 
of Legation, 80, 127, 152, 168. 

Tiarks, Dr. T. L., British Surveyor 
under the Treaty of Ghent, 385, 
386, 387, 397, 401, 402. 

Tottenham, British Ship, brought to 
New York as prize to a French 
privateer, 300, 301, 306. 

Transport Board, 313, 318 ; corre- 
spondence with, 320, 324, 330, 333, 
335, 339, 343, 344. 

Treaty of 1783 between the U. S. 
and England, 43, 44, 66, 74, 362, 
363, 371, 397. 

Treaty of 1794 (Jay's Treaty), pro- 
visions of, 44; Commissioners un- 
der fifth article of, 46 ; views of 
Commissioners respecting title to 
Moose Island, 278-281, 285-288. 

Treaty of 1798 explanatory of the 
fifth article of Jay's Treaty, ne- 
gotiation of, 79-85 ; terms of, 86. 



Treaty (unratified) of 1806, negoti- 
ated by Monroe and Pinkney, 252, 
254, 261. 

Treaty of Ghent, 318 ; provisions of, 
353-355. 

Treaty of Ghent, commission under 
fourth article of, 355 ; first meet- 
ing of, 357, 376 ; second meeting 
at Boston, arguments of agents, 

379 ; adjourn to meet at Boston, 

380 ; third meeting, 388 ; replies 
of agents submitted, 389 ; private 
discussion between Commission- 
ers, 389-394; agreement of Com- 
missioners, 394; decision executed 
on paper, 394; subsequently en- 
grossed on parchment, 395, 399. 

Treaty of Ghent, commission under 
fifth article of, 355 ; first meeting 
of, 361, 376; second meeting at 
Boston, instructions for surveyors, 
379, 380 ; meetings at Burlington, 
Montreal and St. Regis, 402; 
agreement of Commissioners hope- 
less, 405 ; meetings at New York 
and Boston, 405 ; meeting at New 
York in 1821, arguments of agents, 
406 ; Commissioners file separate 
reports, 407. 

Treaty of Ghent, commission under 
sixth and seventh articles of, 355 ; 
form of journal of, 381 ; to meet with 
Commissioners under the fifth ar- 
ticle of the treaty, 383. 

Treaty of 1827 for submission of 
Northeast Boundary question to a 
friendly sovereign, 407, 408. 

Treaty of 1842 (Webster-Ash bur- 
ton), 360, 409. 

Tripoli, war with, 123. 

Tryon, Governor, 15, 23. 

Turner, John, 61. 

Uniacke, Robert John, 35, 329. 

Valeureux, French Frigate, 248, 
250. 

Van Cortlandt, Philip, 22. 

Van Ness, Cornelius P., American 
Commissioner under the fifth ar- 
ticle of the Treaty of Ghent, 357, 
376, 377, 383, 384, 385, 396, 399. 

Van Schaick, Cornelia, marries John 
Barclay, 2. 

Van Schaick, Goosen Gerritse, 6. 

Verplanck's Point, fortifications at, 
23, 24. 



INDEX 



429 



Vesey, Rev. William, 7. 
Veteran, French Frigate, 244. 
Viper, U. S. Ship, 332. 

Walkill, Barclay's farm at, 18, 22, 

War with Great Britain declared 
June 18, 1812, 257; discussions in 
Congress concerning, 307, 309, 310. 

oTo ei ?A„ Athniral Sir J ohn Borlase, 
248, 278, 281, 282, 314, 320, 326 327 
328, 329, 331, 333, 334. ' ' ' 

Wasp. U. S. Ship, 276. 

Waterloo, Battle of, 356 

Watson, Brook, 20, 21, 36, 61. 

Watson, Lt.-Col., 24. 

Watts, John, Sr., 13. 

Watts, John, Jr., 13, 16, 31, 39. 



Watts, Mary (wife of Sir John John- 
son), 117. 
Watts, Stephen, 40. 
Webster, Col. James, 23. 
Wellesley, Marquis of, 293, 294 298 
Wentworth, Sir John, Governor of 
Nova Scotia, 61, 82, 105, 113, 134. 
Whitby, ('apt, Henry, R. N., 230, 231 
232, 234, 235, 237-242 ' ' 

Whitefoord, Caleb, 67. 
Willaumez, Admiral, 243, 244 247 
Williams, Col. Jonathan, U. S. A 

225. 
Wilmot, Nova Scotia, 25, 28. 
Winslow, Edward, 25. 64 
Wood, John, 130, 135. 

Yellow fever, prevalence of, in 
New York, 103, 147, 152, 206, 225. 



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